We are accustomed to defensive care and medicine.
Costs aside it seems the driving mantra (always served with a smile) is avoid risk at all cost; but we also recognise the need to balance risk in its negative and positive forms.
When it comes to thinking about care though we need to be open to new ideas, territories and opportunities and what being defensive means in practice and theory in the 21st century.
Additional links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offa%27s_Dyke
It is unlikely that the Dyke was constructed as a defensive earthwork. No army of the period could defend a 120 plus mile long earthwork. It is more likely that the Dyke was constructed as a political statement of power and intent.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Wall_of_China