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J_Taylor comments on Mistakes repository - Less Wrong Discussion

24 Post author: Dorikka 09 September 2013 03:32AM

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Comment author: avairosa 10 September 2013 03:14:47PM 14 points [-]

Not seeing medical professionals as soon as medical problems arose. I now live with (likely) permanent chronic pain which may well have been preventable were the causes addressed at an earlier date.

The mental model that states that since all past problems have been inconsequential, all future problems must therefore be inconsequential is a problem here. Holding that mental state (my past problems have evaporated without issue, therefore my future problems will do likewise) is problematic because most people have not experienced enough major problems to draw on a meaningful sample size here.

Comment author: J_Taylor 11 September 2013 01:39:30AM 3 points [-]

If you do not mind, could you tell us what your initial symptoms were and what condition was causing them?

Comment author: ciphergoth 11 September 2013 09:23:49AM 10 points [-]

There's a strong case for not doing that. The lesson to be learned here is very general; but it's very tempting to learn only a very specific lesson instead.

Comment author: J_Taylor 11 September 2013 04:08:30PM 7 points [-]

Every time you go the doctor, you put yourself at risk of iatrogenic complications. Following the rule:

Every time you have a medical problem (this is a vague term), see a medical professional.

Is not very pragmatic.

Comment author: ciphergoth 11 September 2013 04:43:27PM 4 points [-]

That's true! I wonder what the right rule is?

Comment author: RomeoStevens 12 September 2013 11:52:02AM 2 points [-]

I'm unaware of a good answer besides "slog through the literature" or "pay someone to slog through the literature." The institutional filters that are supposed to help with this are quite poor.