The consultant on my general medical rotation mentioned that Occam's Razor, while very attractive as a diagnostic tool, can actually be quite misleading because of the implication that one or two identifiable conditions are the cause of an entire constellation of signs and symptoms. As you say, this is often not the case.

Although it does not compare to the difficulties experienced by patients, I think it would be fair to say that chronic unwellness is also quite trying for medical staff, as diagnosis and management are difficult and unrewarding, and psychological problems quickly come into play. Hence the lure of surgery...