Coleman’s Laws
Dr Vernon Coleman
Here are my twelve laws of medicine. The laws are taken from my book Coleman’s Laws. The book contains the background and supporting evidence for each of the laws.
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 into one, you should get out as quickly as you can.
Coleman’s 7th Law of Medicine
There are fashions in medicine 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 rag trade.
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 or hear 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 useful 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
Some patients will always be treated more equally than others.
Copyright Vernon Coleman May 2021
Taken from the book Coleman’s Laws by Vernon Coleman – available as a paperback and an eBook.
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