Problems in the Diagnosis of Iatrogenic Disease

Abstract

Iatrogenic disease can well lay claim to being the “great imitator” in modern medicine. Clinical syndromes associated with therapeutic misadventures are innumerable and simulate naturally arising disease of every organ and system. The cases described illustrate some of the outstanding features, give some idea of the unexpected variety of the diagnostic misunderstandings which arise, and demonstrate how difficult it may be to prove the diagnosis. Since research on iatrogenic disease is based primarily on simple clinical observations, the general physician has an excellent opportunity to make original and useful contributions to medical knowledge.