Sometimes we can offer a cure, sometimes only a salve…
“Sometimes we can offer a cure, sometimes only a salve, sometimes not even that. But whatever we can offer, our interventions, and the risks and sacrifices they entail, are justified only if they serve the larger aims of a person's life. When we forget that, the suffering we inflict can be barbaric. When we remember it the good we do can be breathtaking.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Interventions must align with a person’s broader life goals; otherwise they cause unnecessary harm.
In simple terms: Treat patients with respect to their life aims.
Key Takeaway
Align care with patient’s life purpose.
Themes
medical ethics
patient autonomy
purpose
Mood
empathetic
reflective
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- clinical decision making
- end‑of‑life care
- patient counseling
Key Concepts
beneficence
non‑maleficence
life goals
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the larger aims of a patient’s life?
- How can clinicians discover them?
A Different Perspective
Complex goals may be unclear, making alignment hard.