Uncertainty in Medicine: A Framework for Tolerance

Medical uncertainty has been with us for centuries and remains a recurrent problem for patients, doctors, and researchers. Dr. Paul Han argues that uncertainty is an essential form of knowledge to be cultivated, rather than eradicated, in medical practice and that the paradigm of medicine should be expanded to include the treatment and palliation of medical uncertainty and its effects on physicians, other health professionals, and patients.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 13 October 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Medical uncertainty has plagued humanity for centuries, presenting a persistent challenge for patients, physicians, and researchers alike. Despite its widespread prevalence, uncertainty in healthcare remains inadequately comprehended and inadequately managed. It is often feared and avoided rather than directly addressed. This systemic disregard for uncertainty leads us to treat it as a pathological condition that can be cured through the pursuit of knowledge. However, the acquisition of further medical knowledge often exacerbates the uncertainty in different forms.

Uncertainty in Medicine presents an alternative, multi-disciplinary perspective on this complex problem. Integrating insights from clinical medicine and social science, Dr. Paul Han argues that uncertainty is an essential form of knowledge that should be cultivated rather than eradicated in medical practice. He makes the compelling case that the paradigm of medicine should encompass not only the pursuit of medical knowledge but also the treatment and palliation of medical uncertainty and its impact on physicians, other health professionals, and patients.

Using clear language and a textbook approach, Dr. Han meticulously analyzes the nature, etiology, and natural history of medical uncertainty. He develops a conceptual framework to guide its management, aiming to enhance the systematic way of conceptualizing this problem. By promoting a more comprehensive approach to addressing medical uncertainty, this framework can empower clinicians and patients to better navigate this challenging terrain. It can also help make uncertainty tolerance a more central focus of medical care.

Uncertainty in Medicine is a rational and reassuring guide that offers a new path for approaching medical uncertainty. By arming readers from various disciplines with the necessary tools to diagnose, treat, and confront uncertainty more intentionally and effectively, this book empowers individuals to navigate this complex domain with greater confidence and clarity.

In conclusion, medical uncertainty has persisted for centuries, presenting a persistent challenge for patients, physicians, and researchers. While it is often feared and avoided, Uncertainty in Medicine offers an alternative perspective that recognizes uncertainty as an essential form of knowledge. By promoting a more comprehensive approach to addressing medical uncertainty, this book empowers clinicians and patients to better navigate this challenging terrain. It can also help make uncertainty tolerance a more central focus of medical care, leading to improved outcomes and enhanced well-being for all stakeholders.

Weight: 230g
Dimension: 139 x 209 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190270582