If you have a patient in a doctor's office who's just been…
“If you have a patient in a doctor's office who's just been told they have terminal cancer but there's this operation they could perform right now that might save their lives. ... They have a 90 percent chance of surviving the operation — if you tell them that, they respond one way. If you tell them ... that they have a 10 percent chance of being killed by the operation, they are about three times less likely to have the operation.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Framing risk influences decision making; presenting high survival odds encourages action, while highlighting mortality discourages it.
In simple terms: How information is framed changes choices.
Key Takeaway
Present risks positively to motivate beneficial actions.
Themes
decision making
risk perception
behavioral economics
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
advisory
ethical
When to use this quote
- medical consultations
- patient consent
- public health campaigns
Key Concepts
framing effect
probability bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How might different framing affect patient choices?
- What ethical limits exist in influencing decisions?