The capacity to tolerate medical uncertainty, which is always a central part of medicine and medical practice, has proven to be an important skill for medical practitioners. The risks of an insufficient degree of tolerance of uncertainty are well known. Medical students tolerating ambiguity poorly, are more likely to feel that a general practitioner’s work is too challenging and difficult and involves too much responsibility.
The volume Dealing with Medical Uncertainty in and through the History of Medicine aims to show that the theme of uncertainty has been an ever-present in medical practice and education. One way in which this was previously addressed, either explicitly or otherwise, was through courses in the history of medicine. Only recently, has it become a subject that is discussed in separate courses. The book contributes to the discussion of medical uncertainty in medical education and practice through a strong interdisciplinary approach, yet starting primarily from a historical orientation.
The book examines the history of medicine as a sub-discipline within the medical humanities and its possible contributions to dealing with medical uncertainty. It investigates how the history of medicine reduced intolerance for ambiguity among medical students in the past, and can continue to do so today. Using several case studies, the second part of the volume illustrates the long-term and varied nature of questions of uncertainty in the history of medical practice. Starting with concrete examples, it explores the extent to which physicians have openly discussed such issues or, alternatively, attempted to hide them under a cloak of expertise.
The book addresses medical educators, especially those who want to discuss issues of ambiguity and uncertainty with their students, as well as historians of medicine.
- Kirjan nimi:
- Dealing with Medical Uncertainty in and through the History of Medicine
- Kustantaja:
- Brill
- Julkaisuvuosi:
- 2025
- Sivumäärä:
- 290
- Kirjoittajat:
- Dhondt, Pieter (ed.), Aalto, Sari (ed.), Kleberg Hansen, Anne Katrine (ed.), Kontturi, Saara-Maija (ed.)
- Lisätiedot:
- Open access book
- Esittelyn kirjoittajan nimi:
- Sari Aalto