I knew a brilliant scientist who accomplished very little
compared to his potential. He thought too much, way too much. And he thought
about everything that could go wrong. He went so far that he never got started
with his experiments!
I knew another person who was a great cook. But, for him to
get started he had to get everything right. If I request that he make potato
curry, and if fresh potato from a particular farm in Idaho was not available
that day, I may as well forget potato curry.
Personally, I aim for perfection too. But, am willing to
accept less than perfection. I know that the effort needed to move something
from 99% correct to 100% correct increases exponentially. If I insist on 100%
perfection, I will not get anything done.
Some physicians have the habit of “getting ALL the
information” before they make decisions. I knew one such physician who will not
even see the patient until all the old records were in her hands. Yes, we should insist on collecting as much
information as possible about patients. But, there is a risk of waiting too
long for information and also a risk of having too much information. Medicine
is the art of making decisions with incomplete information and under uncertain
conditions.
One of my professors used to say: “Yes, do collect all the
information. But, if you wait too long to make a working diagnosis and start
treatment, you may have a perfect diagnosis, but there will be no more patient
to treat”! You know what he meant.
I found a similar situation this week when I lead a seminar
on legal documents every family should have, such as a will and a power of
attorney. It was obvious that all of them knew what documents they should have
and what needed to be done. But, some of them did not have these documents completed or updated.
Of course, there may be different reasons for different people. Some of the
expressed reasons I know are:
“Inertia”. That
does not say much!
“I am lazy”. This is more honest.
“I need more information”. This is one reasonable
explanation. Sometimes, it is an excuse for inertia or laziness. Sometimes,
there is a reason the person does not want to get the job done. That may be
fear or an ulterior motive. Often, the person does not even know that there is
a problem.
“I am only 50 and am not planning to fall dead”. No one does! But, life is unpredictable. Since
this has to be done anyhow, why not get it done? And, it is common for us not
to want to think about death and understandable why all of us think we are
immortal.
“It is too expensive”.
Another legitimate issue. One has to think through, but cannot avoid
some papers such as a will. You may find a cheaper method. It is better than
nothing; but may create problem later.
“It will be somebody else’s problem”. Clever excuse, but irresponsible.
"The Lord will take care". No, no, no. Some one here on earth will have to take care. That some one is more likely to curse you than wish you a Heavenly residence. But, then you are not here to care.
