rule-out syndrome
Last reviewed 01/2018
The 'rule-out syndrome' is where unfocussed examining and testing is performed in order to rule out diagnoses. This error is usually made because of inadequate or confused history-taking. The fear of missing low probability diagnoses leads to excessive investigations and referrals.
The remedy is to limit the list of 'most likely' diagnoses to a maximum of five possibilities and the list of 'unlikely but serious or treatable' diagnoses to two.