Medical care Quote by Samuel Shem
““Law XIII. THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL CARE IS TO DO AS MUCH NOTHING AS POSSIBLE””
About This Quote
Source Novel: "The House of God" by Samuel Shem, 1978
The statement satirically suggests that medical care should aim to do as little as possible, critiquing over‑intervention.
In simple terms: Medical care should avoid unnecessary actions, highlighting overtreatment.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize necessary, patient‑focused interventions.
Themes
medicine
ethics
over‑intervention
healthcare critique
satire
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
ethical
satirical
When to use this quote
- medical education
- hospital policy
- patient advocacy
- quality improvement
Key Concepts
clinical decision‑making
patient autonomy
medical culture
Questions to Reflect On
- When is minimal intervention appropriate?
- How can clinicians balance action with restraint?
A Different Perspective
The hyperbolic phrasing may be misinterpreted as endorsing neglect.
![“We got a commitment that 3 million nurses are going to be trained to better identify these signs [of PTSD], because, you know, when these troops come home and they become veterans and they go back into the civilian community, they're not always going through the VA system for medical care. They're…” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b2c/michelle-obama-518_care_we-got-a-commitment-that-3-million-nurse_135943.jpg)
