Young Clinician: What must I do to become a good clinician?
Older Clinician: Study hard.
Young Clinician: Yes. I know that already! But what does THAT mean?
Older Clinician: Read widely. Apply wisely. Practise Attentively. Work Earnestly. Reflect frequently.
Young Clinician: That sounds much too difficult. How about this…. What must I do to pass THE exam?
Older Clinician: That’s not easy either. Maybe you should just memorise the protocols instead. That will keep your patients safe and would require much less effort for all of us.
Young Clinician: Protocols! That’s for people with no imagination who don’t know what they are doing. What should I do instead?
Older Clinician: Study hard.