How we fool ourselves and others - cognitive biases in veterinary medicine

Abstract

Because of the way the human brain functions, we are very susceptible to making mistakes. In this article, twenty thinking errors, which may lead to wrong diagnoses and treatments in veterinary medicine, are described. How sensitive we are in making these mistakes depends rather on rationality than on intelligence. Rationality can be measured and trained, but only if we realize there is a problem in the first place.