13. Diagnosing infections and prescribing pharmaceuticals are the weak points of many practicing physicians

(according to E. H. Shortliffe, one of the developers of MYCIN). It seems, therefore, that society would be better served if MYCIN (and other ES, see Chapter 12) were used extensively, but few physicians use ES. Answer the following questions:

a. Why do you think ES are little used by physicians?

b. Assume that you are a hospital administrator whose physicians are salaried and report to you. What would you do to persuade them to use ES?

c. If the potential benefits to society are so great, can society do something that will increase doctors’ use of ES?