Life is risk. Elimination of risk is called "death." Our job, therefore, is not to eliminate risk but to adjust risks to benefits. Since both "risk" and "benefit" are calculated idiosyncratically to the patient, the family physician is in a potentially good position to help the patient. For example, I will not ride in a car without a lap and chest belt in place, but I will travel far to sea in a small boat. Someone could calculate the risks of either relatively independent of me, but not the benefits. Even the risks involve experience, judgment, sobriety, equipment, etc.
Excerpt from "Not Exposed, Sick"
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