Surgery Godfather

"This generation of... K biological agent, compared to the first-generation agent, has become gentler. Would this mean sacrificing some therapeutic effect?" Adams wanted to confirm this issue.

For the research team, he was just a sample. For himself, he was seeking an extension of life.

Dr. Li didn't expect him to be so conflicted: "No, with each iteration, we improve the therapeutic effect and reduce side effects. Our team has devoted a lot of effort to continuously optimize the plan."

"But there's a very objective fact — efficiency and safety are often contradictory; you can't have both simultaneously. If one improves, the other inevitably declines." Adams doubted this young doctor's explanation.

As a mathematician, he always liked to analyze problems thoroughly and precisely, trying to find a pure answer.

Unfortunately, math is purely theoretical, possessing a sense of perfection, while medicine is an experimental discipline, imbued with imperfection.

"No, this is only the case most of the time. Our team has worked hard to bring the K biological agent into the minority category, where its safety and therapeutic effect both improve. We don't need to sacrifice one for the other; they aren't a contradiction and are not two ends of the same spectrum." Dr. Li didn't want to explain much, but since his patient didn't understand, he had a right to know everything; he had the right to be informed, while the doctor had the duty to clarify for the patient.

"In economics, there's an impossible trinity. I believe such a rule exists in your experiments as well. I often call it the seesaw theory: two closely related parameters are like a seesaw. You can't have it all; when you press down one end, the other must certainly rise." Adams argued.

"Dear, have some water, will you?"

Adams' wife felt that her husband was becoming obsessive again. He often did so when researching mathematical problems, especially when discussing them with friends. But now, it wasn't about mathematics; it was a discussion with the doctor about the illness and treatment method.

"No, no, no, I'm not thirsty now. Doctor, what do you say? This seesaw theory exists in many fields. Of course, it exists in your experiments. For instance, in the research of antibiotics and other drugs, dosage and safety are like a seesaw. To achieve the goal of killing bacteria, naturally, the higher the dosage, the better. But at a certain point, the human body cannot withstand it, harming health and even leading to death. So when the dosage on this end increases, the seesaw's other end, safety, decreases. This seesaw theory also applies to your K Therapy; efficiency and safety are the two ends of the seesaw." Adams paid no attention to his wife's hint.

Now Dr. Li had a headache. What a troublesome patient; not only was he repeatedly conflicted, but he also brought up various theories.

How could he persuade him to stop being so conflicted?

"Your theory is interesting, and I agree. But you overlook one issue: this isn't a math problem; it's a medical problem. Our team has already managed to make efficiency and safety into two pairs of seesaws. They are no longer related; when you press one end of this pair of seesaws, why should the other pair lift? In our medical research, the seesaws you speak of are often not just one pair, but many pairs." Dr. Li had no choice but to engage in a logical discussion with him.

Two pairs of seesaws? Adams pondered.