Red herring
Red Herring
Red Herring (/rɛd ˈhɛrɪŋ/) is a term often used in the field of medicine and healthcare to describe a misleading or distracting piece of information or symptom. The term is derived from the practice of using a smoked herring, which is red in color, to distract hunting dogs from their trails.
Etymology
The term "Red Herring" originates from the 1800s. It is believed to have been coined from the practice of using a smoked herring, which is red in color, to train hunting dogs to follow a scent. In this context, a red herring would be a misleading clue or a distraction from the actual trail.
Usage in Medicine
In the field of medicine, a red herring refers to a symptom or a set of symptoms that leads a doctor away from the correct diagnosis. It can also refer to a medical condition that coexists with the primary condition but is not related to the symptoms experienced by the patient.
For example, a patient may present with chest pain, which could be a symptom of a number of conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, or gastrointestinal issues. If the doctor focuses on the chest pain as a symptom of heart disease, but it is actually due to a gastrointestinal issue, the chest pain would be considered a red herring.
Related Terms
- Differential Diagnosis: The process of distinguishing a particular disease or condition from others that present similar clinical features.
- Misdiagnosis: Incorrectly determining the cause of a patient's illness.
- Symptom: A physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Red herring
- Wikipedia's article - Red herring
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