When Less is More in Medicine

Science and advancements in medical technology

Can help my patients live longer, studies tell me

There is yet another procedure, another medication

That I can add to my patient’s regimen, it exemplifies my dedication

To ensure my patients get treatment that is state-of-the art

In the best possible way I want to take care of their hearts..

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With a conviction that more is better, I proceed

To outline the various treatments that my patient needs

I explain each test, each procedure, each medication in detail

I describe in layperson’s terms what each one entails

When I am done, I ask the patient if she questions for me

She stares at me for a minutes, then shakes her head silently

While I am trying to figure out what this implies

She says she does not want any of it, to my surprise

I try to persist in telling her the benefits of my treatment plan

But she is resolute, she is not going to change her stand..

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An octogenarian, she is a petite, slightly stooped lady

Who has over twenty diagnoses in her medical history

And twenty-five tablets for myriad conditions

Prescribed by different specialist physicians

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I was planning to increase the complexity of her regimen, instead what she needs

Is to pare down the number of medications indeed

So I go through each medication one by one

And determine the rationale behind its continuation

Within fifteen minutes, I have managed to reduce

The number to just eight, I’ve also deduced

That she does not need more diagnostic tests

With reduction in medications, some side-effects we would put to rest..

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I can tell you all about deleterious interactions

Among different medications, therefore retraction

Of certain medications would be the right thing to do

Sometimes less is more-in this case it is true