Sutton's law
Sutton's Law
Sutton's Law (/ˈsʌtənz lɔː/) is a principle in medicine and diagnostics that suggests that when diagnosing, one should first consider the most likely explanation for a patient's symptoms. The law is named after the infamous American bank robber Willie Sutton, who, when asked why he robbed banks, allegedly replied, "Because that's where the money is."
Etymology
The term "Sutton's Law" was coined in the late 20th century and is attributed to Dr. Joseph D. Sapira, who mentioned it in his textbook 'Sapira's Art & Science of Bedside Diagnosis'. The law is named after Willie Sutton, a notorious bank robber in the early 20th century. Sutton, when asked why he robbed banks, supposedly replied, "Because that's where the money is." This pragmatic approach was then applied to medical diagnostics, suggesting that doctors should first consider the most obvious causes of a patient's symptoms.
Application in Medicine
In the field of medicine, Sutton's Law is applied in the process of diagnosis. It suggests that when trying to determine the cause of a patient's symptoms, a doctor should first consider the most likely or obvious explanation. This approach can help to quickly identify the most probable cause and initiate appropriate treatment, thereby saving time and resources.
For example, if a patient presents with a persistent cough, the doctor, following Sutton's Law, would first consider common causes such as a cold, flu, or bronchitis, rather than rare conditions like lung cancer.
Related Terms
- Occam's Razor: A problem-solving principle that suggests the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. It is often used in conjunction with Sutton's Law in medical diagnostics.
- Differential Diagnosis: The process of distinguishing a particular disease or condition from others that present similar clinical features. Sutton's Law can guide this process by prioritizing the most likely causes.
- Clinical Reasoning: The process by which doctors collect and process information to arrive at a diagnosis or management plan. Sutton's Law can influence this process by directing attention to the most probable causes of a patient's symptoms.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sutton's law
- Wikipedia's article - Sutton's law
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