Posted by laima on July 20, 2006, at 14:34:51
In reply to Re: charging for tests » laima, posted by pseudoname on July 20, 2006, at 13:23:52
Well, I admit that while I'm a flakey skeptic about it, the machine test actually makes real sense when you explain it this way. Thank you for taking the time to discuss. Maybe it will prove to be helpful to people, especially to those who are having trouble getting treatment. The part I'm still a tad suspicious about is regarding the specific drugs it recommends. Is the machine non-biased, or is it affiliated with a particular pharmaceutical company? Oh by the way- I agree-good medicine not always so romantic.
> > But can a machine do a better job than an experienced doctor who asks detailed questions?
>
> Well, I'm not selling these, but I think the argument is that there's no way a doctor can test someone's responses in these areas with as much accuracy or detail as the computer can. Machines are used in testing and diagnosis throughout all branches of medicine. And especially in areas like ADHD, the vague diagnostic criteria, personal bias, subjectivity, and unreliability (i.e., differences among testers) are prominent criticisms. So a reliable test from a machine may be a good ADDITION to the other information a good doctor would consider, including personal interviews. It would be really sad if the computer test were the only thing the doc looked at.
>
> > And who liscenses it? Is it more than a patent?
>
> The company that developed it or is marketing it licenses it, just like the accounting software in the doc's office is licensed (essentially, rented with restrictions on its use).
>
> > I'd rather interact with a very good doctor.
>
> What if a very good doctor gave you an EEG? Or a blood test done by a machine?
>
> Don't get me wrong, these marketing practices (as I thought I was making clear) may be quite off-putting. But the fact that a doctor or psychologist might use a machine to help guide treatment shouldn't lead us to assume that she's not a very good or experienced practitioner.
>
> That may not be very romantic, but it could be helpful.
poster:laima
thread:664760
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060717/msgs/668630.html