What Is Diagnosis

“Diagnosis” is a fancy name given to the process of identifying
diseases It is a Greek name Break it down; “dia” means “by”
and “gnosis” means “knowledge” How do I diagnose my illness?
You don’t! Diagnosis is for doctors and physicians only They
determine your disease by the signs and symptoms that it gives
you
If it is unclear by symptoms as to what you are sick with, you
will consult a physician A physician will take their best
guesses as to your problems name, and medically test you for it
After your diagnosis is complete through blood test, medical
imaging, saliva samples, biopsy, electrocardiogram, stool
samples, or urine tests, the physician will decide which is the
best way to treat you
A Diagnosis is sometimes made by process of
elimination This is called a “differential diagnosis” Through
investigation of symptoms and consultations with other doctors
or physicians, they are able to tell what you DO NOT have, thus
leaving them with your most likely disease
In the 1900′s, a man named William Osler began to “practice”
medicine He used the principles of diagnosis and treatment to
reduce suffering and increase life expectancy Osler decided
that to practice medicine you must learn to identify diseases,
understand where they come from and how they work, and then
decide which is the best way to cure them This is known today
as “The Oslerian Ideal” And we have this man to thank for
medicine practice today I suppose, however, we could also thank
him for waiting rooms

Tags | consultations, differential, elimination, fancy, imaging, medical, medicine, physicians, practice, process, result, saliva, samples, waiting