RE: GE: 'Stethoscope for the 21st century'
Looks great but let us not forget a basic law: the simpler a device seems to
be to use, the higher the experience and theoretical knowledge of the user
has to be in order to avoid the multitude of physical, technical, biological
and interpretative artifacts all devices may generate in their usage and the
mistakes that stem from those. Thus it is unlikely that an implement as
described will ?make it easier for clinicians to monitor the human body ... ,
including countries where medical professionals cannot afford larger
imaging systems? since clinicians in such countries lack the means to
reach a necessary level of experience in the first place. Putting such devices
in the hands of medical professional with limited capability in that segment
will just create an illusion something is achieved while generating a host of
superficial results that, ultimately, might generate a disillusionment with an
otherwise splendid implement. A parallel: nobody can become a good
laparoscopic surgeon without becoming a quality ?open air? surgeon first.
The best use of such aides is in the hands of experts with several years of
practice on standard (preferably high-end) machines.
