--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it comes to screening, a doctor who…" description: "\"“When it comes to screening, a doctor who says ‘Let’s err on the side of caution,’ may actually err on the side of reckless ignorance and grave harm.”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/otis-webb-brawley-80518_cancer-screening_when-it-comes-to-screening-a-doctor-who_2354775.jpg" --- # When it comes to screening, a doctor who says ‘Let’s err… ![“When it comes to screening, a doctor who says ‘Let’s err on the side of caution,’ may actually err on the side of reckless ignorance and grave harm.” quote by Otis Webb Brawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/otis-webb-brawley-80518_cancer-screening_when-it-comes-to-screening-a-doctor-who_2354775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/otis-webb-brawley-80518_cancer-screening_when-it-comes-to-screening-a-doctor-who_2354775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/otis-webb-brawley-80518_cancer-screening_when-it-comes-to-screening-a-doctor-who_2354775.jpg) > ““When it comes to screening, a doctor who says ‘Let’s err on the side of caution,’ may actually err on the side of reckless ignorance and grave harm.”” Otis Webb Brawley ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive caution in medical screening can cause harmful neglect. **In simple terms:** Being too cautious may lead to dangerous ignorance. Key Takeaway Balance caution with proactive care. Themes medical ethics risk management screening Mood analytical concerned Type clinical ethical When to use this quote - health policy - clinical guidelines - patient counseling Key Concepts clinical decision‑making patient safety Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide the right level of caution? - What safeguards prevent reckless neglect? A Different Perspective Caution is necessary but should not paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caution/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) ## Related quotes > [When it comes to screening, a doctor who says Lets err on the side of caution, may actually err on the side of reckless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-it-comes-to-screening-a-doctor-who-says-lets-err-on-the-side-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Given the number of small cancers they did find and the number that they reasoned they had missed...the researchers concluded that virtually everybody would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-gilbert-welch/given-the-number-of-small-cancers-they-did-find-and-the-number-that/) H. Gilbert Welch > [“The only way to know if the screening is saving lives is by doing a randomized trial. 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The Doctor: And everybody… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/rose-look-at-you-beaming-away-like-you-re-father-christmas-the-doctor/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [A man walks into a hospital feeling unwell and the doctor says: "Sorry, you've only got three minutes to live." The man said: "Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carson/a-man-walks-into-a-hospital-feeling-unwell-and-the-doctor-says-sorry/) [Frank Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carson/) > [A man goes to a psychiatrist. "Nobody listens to me!" The doctor says, "Next!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/a-man-goes-to-a-psychiatrist-nobody-listens-to-me-the-doctor-says-next/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) ## More by Otis Webb Brawley > [“Here is the problem: Poor Americans consume too little healthcare, especially preventive healthcare. Other Americans—often rich Americans—consume too much healthcare, often unwisely, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-webb-brawley/here-is-the-problem-poor-americans-consume-too-little-healthcare/) Otis Webb Brawley > [“Generally places that are comfortable with excellence don’t call themselves centers of excellence. Has anyone heard of a Princeton University Center of Excellence? Memorial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-webb-brawley/generally-places-that-are-comfortable-with-excellence-don-t-call/) Otis Webb Brawley Explore all 3 Otis Webb Brawley quotes ## More Cancer-screening quotes > [“The only way to know if the screening is saving lives is by doing a randomized trial. It's easy to forget this and assume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-gilbert-welch/the-only-way-to-know-if-the-screening-is-saving-lives-is-by-doing-a/) H. Gilbert Welch > [“Given the number of small cancers they did find and the number that they reasoned they had missed...the researchers concluded that virtually everybody would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-gilbert-welch/given-the-number-of-small-cancers-they-did-find-and-the-number-that/) H. 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