Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Ethics and Bioethics01:22

Ethics and Bioethics

2.0K
Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...
2.0K
Ethical Dilemmas II01:30

Ethical Dilemmas II

1.6K
Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
1.6K
Uncertainty: Overview00:59

Uncertainty: Overview

1.2K
In analytical chemistry, we often perform repetitive measurements to detect and minimize inaccuracies caused by both determinate and indeterminate errors. Despite the cares we take, the presence of random errors means that repeated measurements almost never have exactly the same magnitude. The collective difference between these measurements - observed values - and the estimated or expected value is called uncertainty. Uncertainty is conventionally written after the estimated or expected value.
1.2K
Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

1.3K
Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
1.3K
Propagation of Uncertainty from Random Error00:59

Propagation of Uncertainty from Random Error

1.3K
An experiment often consists of more than a single step. In this case, measurements at each step give rise to uncertainty. Because the measurements occur in successive steps, the uncertainty in one step necessarily contributes to that in the subsequent step. As we perform statistical analysis on these types of experiments, we must learn to account for the propagation of uncertainty from one step to the next. The propagation of uncertainty depends on the type of arithmetic operation performed on...
1.3K
Ethical Issues01:27

Ethical Issues

1.5K
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
1.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Sample Size Determination for Decision-centered Pragmatic Trials.

Journal of clinical epidemiology·2026
Same author

Linking Minimally Important Differences (MID) and Acceptable Regret to Elicit Values and Preferences in Health Decision Models.

Journal of evaluation in clinical practice·2026
Same author

How to determine the optimal duration of anticoagulation for VTE: an evidence-based decision-analytical approach.

Blood advances·2026
Same author

GRADE Guidance: Update on Developing Good Practice Statements in Guidelines.

Annals of internal medicine·2026
Same author

Theory of clinical therapeutic progress: reconciling equipoise with fat-tailed (skewed) outcomes.

Journal of clinical epidemiology·2025
Same author

Converting Evidence-Based Summary of Findings Evidence Tables Into Decision Analytical, Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY) and Life Expectancies Metrics: A Tutorial.

Journal of evaluation in clinical practice·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations
09:07

Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations

Published on: September 16, 2015

9.2K

Ethics of uncertainty.

Benjamin Djulbegovic1

  • 1Beckman Research Institute, Department of Computational & Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA, USA; Division of Health Analytics, 1500 East Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA, USA; Evidence-based Medicine & Comparative Effectiveness Research, 1500 East Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA, USA.

Patient Education and Counseling
|July 27, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Clinical decisions require distinguishing real uncertainties from manufactured doubts. Rational actions are possible and beneficial, even without absolute certainty in medicine.

Keywords:
Decision-makingEthicsEvidenceInferencesUncertainty

More Related Videos

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
13:04

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods

Published on: September 19, 2012

12.2K
Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
11:18

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Published on: September 12, 2014

15.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations
09:07

Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations

Published on: September 16, 2015

9.2K
Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
13:04

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods

Published on: September 19, 2012

12.2K
Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
11:18

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Published on: September 12, 2014

15.4K

Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Scientific Uncertainty

Background:

  • Clinical medicine inherently involves uncertainty, making absolute certainty unattainable.
  • Distinguishing between genuine scientific uncertainty and manufactured doubt is crucial for public trust and health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate legitimate scientific uncertainties from illegitimate doubts created to spread misinformation.
  • To argue for the possibility and necessity of rational decision-making in the face of medical uncertainty.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis and argumentation.
  • Literature review on scientific uncertainty and medical decision-making.

Main Results:

  • Manufacturing doubt aims to paralyze action, falsely suggesting that decisions under uncertainty are impossible.
  • Genuine uncertainties are a natural part of science and medicine, not a barrier to progress.

Conclusions:

  • Rational decisions are achievable and beneficial for individuals and society, even without absolute certainty.
  • Recognizing and navigating legitimate scientific uncertainties is key to effective clinical practice and public health.