Your Health with Dr. Stefan Topolski: Medical mistakes - Athol Daily News

In a column for Athol Daily News, Dr. Stefan Topolski focuses on how mistakes can occur even when doctors follow rules and apply science correctly. He argues that medical care isn’t like a factory line or a one-way highway: patients and clinicians must navigate intersections, changing conditions, and ongoing negotiation. Topolski also criticizes everyday issues such as rushed visits, patients being charged large sums for minimal services, and billing practices that may amount to “theft.” He adds that doctors can harm both patients and practices through overcharging or routinely writing off charges while still expecting full salaries, emphasizing the need to slow down and listen.