This phrase describes the belief that Dr. Portner shares with most all physicians and scientists that all phenomena in nature have a cause. This seems simplistic but is central to the scientific process upon which moderate medicine is based. Apparent cause and effect relationships are sometimes confusing. That is to say that not all observations of correlation can be considered causation. Just because a beneficial effect occurs in the patient after a certain treatment, the observer cannot correctly conclude that the beneficial effect came about because of the treatment. In other words, we cannot jump to conclusions when someone says something like, “Well, I tried this treatment (fill-in anything you like, such as magnets, acupuncture, aspirin, etc.), and the next morning I felt great. This really works!”  This statement always sounds foolish.