Where Is the Evidence That the Resurgence of Nomograms Is Harmful?

IN RESPONSE:

Dr. Zwillich writes that my criticism of the “nomogram epidemic” was “fundamentally unsubstantiated.” Moreover, he suggests that use of computers “numbs” physicians. I infer that he would prefer to return to the days of slide rules for physics problems and pencil-and-paper arithmetic for completing income tax returns. When slide rules were used, mistakes by a factor of 10 were easy to make because the placement of the decimal could be unclear. This does not happen with a calculator. Although the utility of electronic versus hand calculations may be a testable hypothesis, some benefits of technology are self-evident (1).

Despite Dr. Zwillich's apparent nostalgia, I do not miss the good old days of hand calculations. Judging from the ubiquitous use of computers and calculators in everyday life, I am not alone.