Truth, Lies & Disclosure – Sunday Surgical Scrub

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Latest Post Truth, Lies Disclosure Sunday
Surgical Scrub 13 November 2016

• BY
• http//davidalmeidamd.com

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• 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.

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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.
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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 disclosure with truth. This disclosure is
a surprise tactic when you encounter a liar. When
you are facing a deceptive strategist, start with
disclosure and they will find it difficult to
avoid the honest road.
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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.
2016134(4)455-456. doi10.1001/jamaophthalmol.20
15.3638). This study details a case of an
immunosuppressed patient with active
chorioretinitis and chronic endophthalmitis after
cataract surgery.
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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_at_davidalmeidamd.co
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