Author Description
Diagnosis is a practically-oriented guide to the complex reasoning, observations, and judgment that health professionals draw on to make a clinical diagnosis. Built on the cornerstone of the patient-physician relationship, this volume combines rigorous yet accessible conceptual analysis with actionable strategies for navigating uncertainty, making effective use of diagnostic tests, and understanding the economic, interpersonal, and ethical considerations influencing diagnosis. Across six chapters, Ashley Graham Kennedy tackles such thorny issues as overdiagnosis, underdiagnosis, and new complications from the Covid-19 pandemic, supplemented by carefully chosen medical case studies. In so doing, she demonstrates that even "ordinary" cases require a delicate balance of medical and ethical considerations in order to promote the patient's physical and mental well-being. Ultimately, this volume demonstrates that clinical diagnosis is not just about acquiring knowledge but also facilitating the health of the people it serves.With clarity and compassion, Diagnosis illuminates the ethical and philosophical underpinnings of the diagnostic process for the medical practitioner.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
How can medical practitioners refine their diagnostic reasoning to balance clinical accuracy with the ethical complexities of patient care? Ashley Graham Kennedy, a scholar of medical philosophy, examines the cognitive and moral architecture of the diagnostic process. By integrating conceptual analysis with practical clinical application, she argues that diagnosis is a multifaceted activity requiring more than mere data synthesis; it demands an awareness of the interpersonal and economic variables that shape health outcomes.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of diagnostic uncertainty and the strategic use of medical testing.
- Frameworks for addressing overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis in clinical settings.
- Case studies illustrating the intersection of medical judgment and ethical responsibility.
- Discussion of systemic influences, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on diagnostic standards.
Scope Limits
- The text does not serve as a clinical handbook for specific disease pathology or treatment protocols.
- It does not provide exhaustive technical data on diagnostic imaging or laboratory equipment.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and medical educators frequently cite this work for its ability to bridge the gap between abstract philosophical inquiry and the daily realities of clinical practice. Readers note the accessibility of the prose, which makes complex ethical concepts applicable to the training and ongoing development of healthcare professionals.
Page Count:
152
Publication Date:
2021-08-02
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190060417
ISBN-13:
9780190060411
Philosophy
Politics & Social Sciences
Epistemology
Healthcare
Medicine
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Medical
Ethics
Diagnosis
Social Philosophy
Professional Development
Medical Ethics