Some parents like the drama of having their child diagnosed with a scary diagnosis such as "pneumonia." Even when I get a CXR -- which is rare -- and it is read as pneumonia, I try to explain there are "small cars and big cars" and there are "tiny pneumonias" and "big pneumonias."
It is tempting to see a patient and say, "Wow! This is a whopping ear infection. How did the ED doctor miss this?" vs "It does look like an ear infection is starting and may be the cause of your baby's irritation. I doubt it was even there last night."
I then go on to tell them that I can't diagnose or treat an MI, and I wouldn't expect them to be able to be great at looking at the ears of a 6 month old. It is just so important to say the right things, although I do have to work are my oblique muscles of my eyes. (if you follow me).
