Most of the time after meeting a patient for the first time, I don't prescribe a remedy immediately at the conclusion of the consultation.  It is my habit to study the information gathered during the session - my notes, observations and impressions - afterward, in order to integrate it all together, come up with a treatment strategy and an initial remedy.

During a consultation, it is easy to have a remedy come to mind and color my perspective. So, step backing affords me the opportunity to drop my prejudice and gain a more objective frame of reference. It also affords time the opportunity to study not only the patient's information, but medical and homeopathic literature relevant to the case as well.