Coleman's Laws of Medicine

Dr Vernon Coleman qualified as a medical doctor in the UK many years ago ; and has published an excellent series of books on health and wellness. They are packed with wise insights and commonsense - and many of these are as true today as when they were first published !

Here are his 12 Laws of Medicine - something which all doctors should put up on their clinics, so patients keep them in mind when going to a doctor !


COLEMAN’S 1ST LAW OF MEDICINE
If you are receiving treatment for an existing disease and you develop new symptoms then, until proved otherwise, you should assume that the new symptoms are caused by the treatment you are receiving.
COLEMAN’S 2nd LAW OF MEDICINE
There is no point in having tests done unless the results will affect your treatment.
COLEMAN’S 3rd LAW OF MEDICINE
If the treatment doesn’t work then you should consider the possibility that the diagnosis might be wrong. This is particularly true when several treatments have been tried.
COLEMAN’S 4th LAW OF MEDICINE
Screening examinations and check-ups are more profitable for doctors than for patients.
COLEMAN’S 5th LAW OF MEDICINE
It is doctors, not patients, who need annual check-ups.
COLEMAN’S 6th LAW OF MEDICINE
Hospitals are not suitable places for sick people. If you must go onto one, you should get out as quickly as you can.
COLEMAN’S 7th LAW OF MEDICINE
There are fashions in medicines just as much as there are fashions in clothes. The difference is that whereas badly conceived fashions in clothes are only likely to embarrass you, ill-conceived fashions in medicine may kill you. The fashions in medicine have, by and large, as much scientific validity as the fashions in the clothes industry.
COLEMAN’S 8th LAW OF MEDICINE
The medical establishment will always take decisions on health matters which benefit industry, government and the medical profession, rather than patients. And the government will always take decisions on health matters which benefit the State rather than individual patients. What you read, hear or see about medicine and health matters will have more to do with the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry and the government, than the genuine needs of patients.
COLEMAN’S 9th LAW OF MEDICINE
Doctors and nurses know little or nothing about staying healthy. In particular, doctors and nurses know nothing about food, diet and healthy eating. (Sadly, the same is true of nutritionists and dieticians).
COLEMAN’S 10th LAW OF MEDICINE
There are no holistic healers. There are only holistic patients.
COLEMAN’S 11th LAW OF MEDICINE
There is no such thing as minor surgery.
COLEMAN’S 12th LAW OF MEDICINE
Same patients will always be treated more equally than others.