The Paramorphic Representation of Clinical Judgement, No. 12

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Date

1972

Authors

Hoffman, Paul J.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Oregon Research Institute

Abstract

The primary task of clinical diagnosis is that of collecting , evaluating, and assimilating information with respect to the patient. The starting point is the information itself; this may be in the form of laboratory test results, biographical data, scores on psychological tests, manifest symptoms, or other observables. The end result is a judgment; this may take the form of a recommendation concerning treatment or discharge, a decision that certain other data are necessary before final judgment is made, or a classification of the patient into a diagnostic category. What intervenes between beginning and end is, for each clinician, a quite complex idiosyncratic process . It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that the process is capable of rigorous investigation and description.

Description

27 pages

Keywords

clinical judgement, clinical diagnosis, judgement, mental process, relative weights

Citation