What would you do if two consultants gave conflicting recommendations?
Specialty-Specific
Purpose
This question checks your critical thinking and communication skills in a tricky situation. They want to see if you can handle disagreements between specialists while keeping the patient's best interest in mind.
Tips
- Start by emphasizing patient safety and the need for the best care.
- Show that you would gather all the information and understand the reasons behind each recommendation.
- Mention consulting relevant guidelines or literature to back up your understanding.
- If possible, suggest facilitating a conversation between the consultants to clarify their advice.
- Be ready to synthesize the information and propose a unified plan before involving your supervising attending.
- Communicate the final plan clearly to the patient and their family.
Common mistakes
- Don't just pick one recommendation based on who seems more senior or what’s easier.
- Avoid ignoring the conflict or being defensive about the situation.
- Make sure to involve your supervising attending; failing to do so shows poor judgment.
- Don't forget to maintain professionalism and respect towards both consultants.