Clinicians Quote by Atul Gawande
““The pressure remains all in one direction, toward doing more, because the only mistake clinicians seem to fear is doing too little. Most have no appreciation that equally terrible mistakes are possible in the other direction—that doing too much could be no less devastating to a person's life.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks at Harvard Medical School, 2015
Clinicians often over‑treat patients, fearing under‑care more than overtreatment, which can be equally harmful.
In simple terms: Doctors fear doing too little, but doing too much can also hurt.
Key Takeaway
Balance treatment intensity with patient needs.
Themes
medical ethics
risk management
patient safety
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
advice
cautionary
When to use this quote
- hospital rounds
- primary care
- chronic disease management
- end‑of‑life care
Key Concepts
overdiagnosis
clinical decision‑making
harm reduction
Questions to Reflect On
- How can clinicians recognize when they are overtreating?
- What systems support balanced care?
A Different Perspective
Limited resources may constrain ability to avoid overtreatment.
