Let The Buyer Beware

Caveat emptor is Latin for let the buyer beware, meaning the buyer assumes the risk in any transaction. Traditionally, we tend to think of caveat emptor when purchasing clothing without trying them on, ordering a car online, or buying anything from a garage sale. But let’s take this a step further because none of those can injure anything but our egos.

I cannot tell you how many times I have learned that someone has gone to a doctor for a routine physical and learned that they have a serious health problem. Whether it’s a low platelet count, a high PSA, or high cholesterol, they find themselves frightened after listening to the doctors tell them how serious their malady is. It always strikes me that just yesterday, they didn’t even know they were sick….and they may not be.

Let the buyer beware. Always get a second opinion, and not from the doctor’s referral list. Always repeat any questionable laboratory tests, because labs make mistakes. Most importantly, always change the second you are told that you’re sick because changing will prove to many of you that you have more control over medical diagnoses and lab tests than you ever thought possible.

Let me leave you with this.
In 2013, a Spanish study discovered that 27 doctor diagnosed, medical scan proven lung cancer patients didn’t have lung cancer at all. All 27 recovered after taking antifungal drugs. By years end, I will have a very exciting paper that reveals to you just how many lung diagnoses are wrong. My point?  With his approval, challenge your doctor and your diagnosis with change. Many will see what I mean within a short few months. What is the take-home lesson in this blog?  Deja que el paciente tenga cuidado, or, “let the patient be careful.”