Amendment Quote by Edgar Allan Poe
“The data from the 1990 Harvard Medical Practice Study suggest that 150,000 Americans die every year from doctors' negligence - compared with 38,000 gun deaths annually. Why are doctors not declared a public health menace? Because they save more lives than they take. And so it is with guns.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Public Health Perspective, 2020
The statement compares doctor negligence deaths to gun deaths, suggesting doctors aren't labeled as a public health threat because they save more lives, implying a similar view toward guns.
In simple terms: Doctors cause fewer deaths than guns, so they're not seen as a health threat.
Recognize differing impacts on public health.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- healthcare reform
- gun control legislation
- public awareness campaigns
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors should determine a profession's public health classification?
- How can we address both medical errors and gun violence effectively?
Oversimplifies complex causes of mortality and ignores systemic issues.