Anchoring
Formal Definition
Fixating on an initial diagnosis or piece of information despite new, contradicting data.
How It's Used on the Ward
"We anchored on the initial impression" — means you stayed locked onto one diagnosis.
Example
""We anchored on the initial "heartburn" diagnosis for 3 days. When the troponin came back positive, we had to recalibrate. Anchoring is one of the most common cognitive errors.""
Clinical Context
Anchoring is a cognitive bias. The antidote is actively re-evaluating your working diagnosis as new data arrives. Ask yourself: "What would change my mind? What evidence would refute this?"
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