Healthcare Laws vs. Newton’s Laws

Lee A. Resnick, MD, FAAFP Newton’s Third Law: “To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.” Medicine applies Newton’s Third Law liberally, from physiology to pharmacology; negative feedback loops, down-regulation, compensatory states, and medication side effects all follow its principles. The body, as we well know, is inclined to homeostasis, and any upset to this balance is met with resistance and dysfunction. Unfortunately, well-meaning healthcare regulators, policymakers—and, yes, even fellow physicians—have ignored …

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