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If there's one operation for a disease, you know it works…

“If there's one operation for a disease, you know it works. If there are 15 operations, you know that none of them work.” quote by Sherwin B. Nuland
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“If there's one operation for a disease, you know it works. If there are 15 operations, you know that none of them work.”

Sherwin B. Nuland

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

If a single treatment works, it’s validated; multiple conflicting treatments suggest none are effective.

In simple terms: Multiple failed treatments imply inefficacy.

Key Takeaway

Seek evidence‑based solutions.

Themes

medicine clinical trials efficacy diagnosis skepticism

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

educational clinical

When to use this quote

  • clinical practice
  • research design
  • policy making

Key Concepts

evidence hierarchy treatment validation patient safety

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you decide when to abandon a treatment?
  • What role does patient preference play in treatment choice?
A Different Perspective

Complex diseases may need combination therapies.

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