
Cognitive biases can cause diverse medical errors and lead to malpractice with potential harm to patients. Some cognitive biases are due to social behavior, professional specialization, and personal experience, leading to commission or omission in medical conduct. We would like to propose a previously undescribed cognitive bias called "Schrödinger's cat bias." In 1935, Erwin Schrödinger proposed a dual system based on quantum mechanics that a cat could be dead or alive at the same time. The "Schrödinger's cat bias" is a situation in which a physician takes a decision and requests an exam or procedure that was unnecessary and puts the patient through an unforeseen risk. After the procedure, if there is a good outcome, the patient will be grateful for it. However, if there is a bad outcome, he would still be grateful for their efforts in trying to find the etiology. This cognitive bias will, most of the time, favor the therapies over the decision of not to treat.
Medical Education
Medical Education
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
