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About this quote

What does it mean?
Medicine involves uncertain scientific facts and probabilistic clinical judgment.
In plain terms
Doctors work with uncertainty and best guesses based on science.
What can you take from it?
Accept that medical outcomes are often probabilistic not guaranteed.

Where it applies

  • medical practice
  • patient communication
  • decision making

Putting it to work

  • explaining risks to patients
  • setting realistic expectations

Questions to consider

  • How do doctors handle uncertainty?
  • When should patients demand certainty?

Another view

Patients may find uncertainty difficult to accept in crises.

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