Risk-averse? - Time for a new Approach?

     Do we prioritize avoiding risks of all sorts, instead of approaching whatever is at hand with curiosity and confidence in doing our best? In other words, do we tend to be more "risk-averse" rather than "novelty seekers"? Health-care did attract us, at least partially, with guaranteed job security and income. Didn't we also, to some degree, engage in a bit of magical thinking - that if we got to wear the lab coat, we'd somehow avoid having to wear the johnny shirt - or perhaps even the tag on the big toe?

     “we compound our suffering by trying to avoid (what we fear). …
      Mindfulness is a technology for gradually turning … attention toward the fear as it is happening, exploring it in detail with increasing degrees of friendly acceptance.”
      Germer CK, Siegel RD, Fulton PR eds. “Mindfulness and Psychotherapy.” The Guilford Press, NY, 2005.

     Avoidant tendencies, not surprisingly, also adversely affect how we treat patients. One example involves telling patients bad news:

     “... it is not uncommon for clinicians to delay, avoid, or delegate this vital area of clinical practice.”

        Meyer EC et al. Difficult conversations: improving communication skills and relational abilities in health care. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2009; 10(3): 352-9.

NOTE: I'm obviously not suggesting the other extreme of taking intentional risks with patients for the sake of novelty.

Credit: slideshare   http://www.slideshare.net/myprof/unusual-pics08-20120phyl1