People differ; this is a truism. However, they still fall into distinguishable statistical classes. This allows for population level interventions like vaccination and water fluoridation and for double-blind randomised control trials.
The objective measurements that we make as clinicians – point measurements – are generally not useful unless they are obviously deranged / abnormal. Generally, we are interested in trend data: is this normal for the patient? Is it correcting or worsening? How fast is it changing? Is the trend reversible? What is the cause?
The highest priority is always the preservation of brain function. Heart, lungs and kidneys follow.
I look forward to the introduction of real-time sensors with some way to capture and analyse the data stream: emergencies should be fewer and more easily managed.
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