[An analysis of diagnostic discrepancies due to subjective factors in the clinics of Moscow]

Discrepancies between clinical and pathological diagnoses (classes 1-3) attributed to subjective factors have been analyzed for the period 1981-1985. The investigation pooled the data from three largest Moscow hospitals: S. P. Botkin, No. 1 and 7. Subjective misdiagnosis comprises from 34 to 45.6% of overall diagnostic discrepancies. As a rule, it resulted from inadequate clinical examination, underestimation of clinical evidence, overestimation of anamnestic data, misinterpretation of laboratory findings and those of consulting physicians as well as provided by adjuvant investigations. The errors of the above kind are most typical for patients over 60. The authors refer these diagnostic discrepancies to iatrogenesis.