Dr Fisher's casebook

At my first successful interview for a lecturing post, a learned consultant asked: “What is the purpose of teaching medical students statistics?” He obviously doubted the necessity, but had to sit on the appointments panel since the medical faculty has stumped up the money. I replied rather sanctimoniously: “So that patients receive better care” It may not have been Descartes but it got me the job, and I have never stopped believing it.