Latest Post: Truth, Lies & Disclosure

Sunday Surgical Scrub 13 November 2016

BY
http://davidalmeidamd.com

Disclosure
Strategy
Sunday Surgical Scrub

Men often hate each other because they fear

each other; they fear each other because they
dont know each other; they dont know each
other because they can not communicate; they
can not communicate because they are
separated. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

TASK AT HAND: This week Im thinking about truth and

lies. All humans lie. There are numerous research reports
and published studies that show that we all lie. Whether a
pastor or prisoner, black or white, we all lie.From
rationalized half-truths to orchestrated cons, lies hurt our
unique ability to communicate. They, as the MLK quote
states above, separate us and break down real discourse
with each other. This has serious consequences that
negatively impair our personal and professional
relationships.
However in knowing we all lie what is the best strategy
to free us from lies and liars? Disclosure is a forgotten tool
that helps us navigate the byways of truth and lies.
Disclosure, loosely defined as the action of making new
information known, is a powerful weapon against the
tendency to blur reality and fiction.

Disclosure is a powerful weapon against the

tendency to blur reality and fiction.
As a surgeon and scientist, I disclose all possible positive
and negative outcomes of a treatment or surgery to my
patients. Before I say anything else, I disclose to the
patient. I disclose all the good and all the bad. My hope is
that the patient then reciprocates and starts an honest
conversation with me about their questions, fears and
anxieties. From here, we can cement a trustful rapport
that will allow us to share in decision making and achieve
what is in the best interests of the patient.
One can build on this concept of disclosure. Whether you
are discussing with a friend or negotiating with a
competitor, start by disclosing up front. Leslie K Johns
book, How To Negotiate With A Liar, shows that humans
have a strong reaction to reciprocate and return

When you are facing a deceptive strategist,

start with disclosure and
they will find it difficult to avoid the honest road.
MEDICINE & MACULA:Check out one of our recent
publications, Chronic Recurrent Pseudophakic
Endophthalmitis, published in JAMA Ophthalmology
(JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;134(4):455-456.
doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2015.3638).
This study details a case of an immunosuppressed patient
with active chorioretinitis and chronic endophthalmitis
after cataract surgery.

Thanks to everyone for their interest in our growing body

of endophthalmitis literature. This is a significant interest
of mine and we have more studies planned.
Check out the publication here.
GRATIS:No man has a good enough memory to be a
successful liar. -Abraham Lincoln
My best to you,
David Almeida
david@davidalmeidamd.com