Epistemology. It’s a big philosophical word that addresses the basic question, how do you know something? It’s a huge and complex question in the world of medicine. How do you know one way is better than another? It applies to individuals approaching diagnoses and treatment plans; it applies to doctors seeking advice about specific diseases; and it applies to researchers seeking to guide collective judgment about possible outcomes. This book tackles this problem head-on with an eye towards contemporary issues. It accomplishes its intended goal of bringing these issues to light.
First, I must address expectations. This is a philosophical book about the biomedical research literature. It is not written by a practitioner in the medical system or even a biomedical researcher. It is written by a person of letters who studies the healthcare system. The astute reader will notice some practical gaps in the author’s experience. If that fact poses an issue for a certain reader, that reader should not read this book. I am interested in reading all perspectives on healthcare, so this book interests me.
Solomon hits on the right topics – narrative medicine, translational medicine, personalized medicine (though only to a limited extent), evidence-based medicine, and how consensus is reached in medicine. Each chapter operates as its own autonomous unit, meaning that the entire book need not be read in order for a topic to be understood. In my medical training, I thought about these issues but did not have the time to explore them in depth. It’s nice to get a critique by a skilled mind on these issues. Most doctors are familiar with the quandaries presented here. This book provides a “deep dive” into what makes these issues controversial. It does not stake out a position on the controversy but instead portrays a plurality of voices about the issues. As such, Solomon’s voice can raise important issues that healthcare practitioners can benefit from thinking through.
Making Medical Knowledge
by Miriam Solomon
Copyright (c) 2015
ISBN13 9780198732617
Page Count: 224
Genre: Philosophy, Healthcare
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