The Danger of Oversimplification: Use Occam’s Razor Without Getting Cut

Occam’s Razor…. An interesting mental model used in various fields to make things simpler.

Quote from article on usage of this in medicine..

“Modern doctors use a version of Occam’s razor, stating that they should look for the fewest possible causes to explain their patient’s multiple symptoms and also for the most likely causes. A doctor I know often repeats, “common things are common.” Interns are instructed, “when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” For example, a person displaying influenza-like symptoms during an epidemic would be considered more probable to be suffering from influenza than an alternative, rarer disease. Making minimal diagnoses reduces the risk of over treating a patient, or of causing dangerous interactions between different treatments. This is of particular importance within the current medical model, where patients are likely to see numerous different health specialists and communication between them can be poor.”

https://fs.blog/2017/05/mental-model-occams-razor/