When a patient sees a doctor, the patient is seeking help –- to regain or retain health. The physician’s task is to work for the patient’s health. The doctor does so by treating disease, by relieving discomfort, by assisting the patient with any disability, by preventing premature death, and by maximizing contentment. (Some have summarized these activities as tackling “the five D’s” of health – disease, discomfort, disability, death, and dissatisfaction). Often there is success in all these areas. In the best of circumstances, the doctor is able to prevent disease and help the patient remain healthy. In other cases, disease and death defeat us. In some cases none of the goals are achieved, but even that outcome must not stop us from trying. By focusing on the health of the patient, the doctor tests the myriad activities of clinical medicine against the health outcome of the patient.