Effective bedside teaching

The teacher probes the student by asking questions about uncertainties, difficulties or alternative approaches. This discussion can also include common errors in making a clinical diagnosis, such as:

• Making a clinical diagnosis early in the diagnostic process and sticking to this initial diagnosis despite new and contradictory information becoming available
• Making a clinical diagnosis based on the one that most readily comes into their mind. Often this is something rare or memorable but not the commonest
• Comparing the symptoms and signs with a "typical case" and then making the presenting case fit with this typical case