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The possibilities and probabilities are all we have to work with in medicine, though. What we are drawn to in this imperfect science, what we in fact covet in our way, is the alterable moment-the fragile but crystalline opportunity for one's know-how, ability, or just gut instinct to change the course of another's life for the better.
Atul Gawande
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Medicine is an imperfect science, and it relies on our skills and instincts to make a positive impact on lives.

In this quote, Atul Gawande emphasizes the inherent uncertainties in medicine, highlighting that although it operates within the realm of possibilities and probabilities, it is the 'alterable moment' that truly matters. This moment represents the opportunity for healthcare professionals to use their knowledge, skills, and intuition to make a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients, reflecting the delicate balance of science and the human touch in medical practice.

Themes

MedicineUncertaintyOpportunityHealthcareChange

In practice

Example use cases

During a medical conference, a speaker might use this quote to emphasize the importance of skill and instinct in patient care.

More from Atul Gawande

A failure often does not have to be a failure at all. However, you have to be ready for it-will you admit when things go wrong? Will you take steps to set them right?-because the difference between triumph and defeat, you'll find, isn't about willingness to take risks. It's about mastery of rescue.
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No one teaches you how to think about money in medical school or residency. Yet, from the moment you start practicing, you must think about it. You must consider what is covered for a patient and what is not.
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Just using a checklist requires [doctors] to embrace different values from ones we've had, like humility, discipline, teamwork.
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When I do an operation, it's half a dozen people. When it goes beautifully, it's like a symphony, with everybody playing their part.
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At times, in medicine, you feel you are inside a colossal and impossibly complex machine whose gears will turn for you only according to their own arbitrary rhythm. The notion that human caring, the effort to do better for people, might make a difference can seem hopelessly naive. But it isn't.
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We look for medicine to be an orderly field of knowledge and procedure. But it is not. It is an imperfect science, an enterprise of constantly changing knowledge, uncertain information, fallible individuals, and at the same time lives on the line. There is science in what we do, yes, but also habit, intuition, and sometimes plain old guessing. The gap between what we know and what we aim for persists. And this gap complicates everything we do.
Atul GawandeRead

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