Which bias is the tendency to cling to the initial diagnosis?

• A. Availability bias
• B. Automation bias
• C. Confirmation bias
• D. Anchoring bias

Answer: (D)

Anchoring bias is the tendency to cling to the initial diagnosis and use it as an anchor for all further judgments. When the first impression or the first piece of information about a patient is set, subsequent data are interpreted in light of that anchor, making it hard to revise the diagnosis even as new clues emerge. This leads clinicians to give more weight to confirming aspects of the initial thought and discount or overlook disconfirming evidence, which can delay the correct diagnosis and appropriate management.

This description fits anchoring best because it specifically highlights sticking with the first diagnostic impression. Other biases involve different patterns—for example, confirmation bias is about seeking information that confirms a preconception, availability bias relates to what’s most memorable or recent, and automation bias is over-relying on automated guidance. Each of these changes how information is weighed, but anchoring centers on the influence of the initial anchor itself.