Related Experiment Videos
The evolution of medical uncertainty
The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly. Health and Society
|January 1, 1980
Summary
Scientific advancements introduce new risks and uncertainties, leading to public intolerance. Effectively managing these risks requires careful consideration of scientific, cultural, and social factors.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Risk Assessment
- Sociology of Science
Background:
- Modern scientific medicine has introduced unprecedented uncertainties and risks.
- Public expectations for certainty have increased, while tolerance for uncertainty has decreased.
- Discussions about scientific discovery often involve contrasting metaphors of "deliverance" and "disaster".
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the challenges in managing risks associated with scientific advancements.
- To examine the societal and cultural dimensions of risk appraisal.
- To identify effective strategies for controlling emergent risks in medicine.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of risk and uncertainty in scientific medicine.
- Review of public perception and expectations regarding medical advancements.
- Exploration of philosophical underpinnings of errors and mistakes in science.
Main Results:
- Scientific progress inherently generates new and higher stakes risks.
- A societal paradox exists: increased public expectation clashes with decreased tolerance for uncertainty.
- Diverse philosophical viewpoints shape the understanding of errors and their role.
Conclusions:
- Appraising and controlling new risks requires a multidisciplinary approach.
- Strategies must be scientifically sound, culturally sensitive, and socially effective.
- Addressing the gap between scientific advancement and public acceptance is crucial for managing risk.