The Kunwar Report

By Dr. Kunwar, East County Internal Medicine

A wise attending once told me, “If you listen carefully enough, the patient will tell you the diagnosis.”
That used to be the heart of medicine. Today, it’s becoming rare.

Across the country—and right here in Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Parrish—millions of people are misdiagnosed every year. Studies from Johns Hopkins and the BMJ show that diagnostic errors touch at least one in ten outpatient visits, and when the condition is stroke, heart attack, or cancer, the results can be life-altering.

Why is this happening more often?

• Rushed visits that leave no room for real conversation
• Over-reliance on tests instead of thoughtful history-taking
• Fragmented care where no one connects the dots
• Burned-out doctors buried in computers instead of listening

The result? Patients told “it’s just anxiety,” “it’s just aging,” or “lose weight and you’ll feel better” when something real is being missed.

I’ve seen it too many times: a Lakewood Ranch golfer told his chronic fatigue was depression, a Bradenton teacher told her joint pain was “normal wear and tear,” a Parrish mom told her racing heart was stress. In each case, a little time and careful listening uncovered thyroid disease, vitamin deficiencies, or early cardiac changes that were completely treatable once correctly identified.

At East County Internal Medicine, accurate diagnosis remains the foundation of everything we do. We believe medicine should still be practiced as an art: unhurried, attentive, and deeply respectful of each person’s story.

If you’ve ever left a doctor’s office feeling unheard or dismissed—whether you’re in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Bradenton, or Parrish—you’re not alone. And you don’t have to stay there.

Sometimes the greatest healing begins with simply being listened to.

Dr. Kunwar
East County Internal Medicine
Lakewood Ranch, Florida