Why are assumptions passed off as established knowledge?

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Pain Medicine
• Medical Logic

Background:

• Expert assumptions can be mistakenly accepted as established medical knowledge.
• Flaws in logical argumentation by experts contribute to this issue.
• This phenomenon has significant patient consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explain problems arising from expert assumptions accepted as fact.
• To test the hypothesis that logical fallacies underpin these issues.
• To analyze reasoning in pain medicine syndromes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of reasoning processes in the generation of three pain medicine syndromes.
• Evaluation of scientific arguments for logical validity.
• Examination of the role of scientific journals in knowledge dissemination.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated failure in logical argument structure by proponents of myofascial pain, shoulder impingement, and central sensitization syndromes.
• Identification of assumptions promoted to the status of facts.
• Evidence of uncritical acceptance by scientific journals and significant patient impact.

Conclusions:

• Expert assumptions, when presented with logical fallacies, can be erroneously accepted as established medical knowledge.
• This critical reasoning failure in medical science has tangible negative consequences for patients.
• Adherence to principles of logical argument is crucial in medical knowledge generation and dissemination.