Stethoscopes and stories

The stethoscope is a simple, elegant technology invented by French physician René Laennec in 1816, but in 21st-century medicine its value is not always appreciated, especially in the care of the elderly. The stethoscope is familiar; it is relatively unobtrusive. It allows us to listen to crackles at the base of the lung, which might suggest pneumonia, and to hear a diminished sound in the bowel, which might suggest the early stages of bowel obstruction. Yes, I will order an ECG or MRI if it can help me refine my diagnosis. However, these technologies can sometimes cause stress for many frail older patients