[oldalum]

Unfortunately, we don't always have the luxury of waiting until a conclusive study comes around, when we have to provide advice right now, based on whatever data you have and whatever parallels you can draw to similar situations in the past.  

YES. And often a conclusive study never comes, or when it arrives it is already outdated. Or it doesn't necessarily apply to the patient or situation in front of you.  I think people often don't realize that this is the state of a large proportion of medical care all the time; it is just made much worse and more evident by the time urgency of and public attention to the pandemic. Physicians must constantly use their judgment in determining a reasonable course of action for any specific patient.

[oldalum]

Unfortunately, we don't always have the luxury of waiting until a conclusive study comes around, when we have to provide advice right now, based on whatever data you have and whatever parallels you can draw to similar situations in the past.  

YES. And often a conclusive study never comes, or when it arrives it is already outdated. Or it doesn't necessarily apply to the patient or situation in front of you.  I think people often don't realize that this is the state of a large proportion of medical care all the time; it is just made much worse and more evident by the time urgency of and public attention to the pandemic. Physicians must constantly use their judgment in determining a reasonable course of action for any specific patient.