Op. Dr. Mehmet Ataman
Your Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist

My Approach to Medicine

The unrelenting pace of technological evolution is reshaping every branch of science, and medicine has received its share. The most important aspect of practicing medicine — the science and art of diagnosis — is increasingly handed off blindly to technology. As physicians we should use every opportunity modern technology offers, but it must not drag us into approaches that skip the foundations of the medical art and impose unnecessary loss of time, money and peace of mind on patients.

Approaching the patient who entrusts themselves to me as a whole person is an obligation. It starts with the right diagnosis: listening to the patient's story, performing a detailed physical examination, and filtering both through an analytical, experience-driven framework. Only then can further tests contribute positively. I continue to see a well-established patient–doctor relationship as the fundamental asset of any treatment.

Principles that have guided my 40+ year career

• Build a healthy channel of communication — anyone can understand any scientific concept when it is explained properly, without jargon.
• Medicine is an art of service; the physician must never be condescending. Academic titles have nothing to do with the art of serving.
• Devote enough time to listening; a thorough examination is more valuable than any generic test.
• Evaluate findings analytically and abstain from ordering unnecessary tests.
• Be certain before recommending surgery: the safest operation is the one never performed.
• Never recommend to a patient a drug or operation you would not recommend to your own child or parents.