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At the borders of medical reasoning: aetiological and ontological challenges of medically unexplained symptoms

Eriksen, Thor Eirik; Kerry, Roger; Mumford, Stephen; Lie, Svein Anders Noer; Anjum, Rani Lill

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Authors

Thor Eirik Eriksen

Roger Kerry

Stephen Mumford

Svein Anders Noer Lie

Rani Lill Anjum



Abstract

Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) remain recalcitrant to the medical profession, proving less suitable for homogenic treatment with respect to their aetiology, taxonomy and diagnosis. While the majority of existing medical research methods are designed for large scale population data and sufficiently homogenous groups, MUS are characterised by their heterogenic and complex nature. As a result, MUS seem to resist medical scrutiny in a way that other conditions do not. This paper approaches the problem of MUS from a philosophical point of view. The aim is to first consider the epistemological problem of MUS in a wider ontological and phenomenological context, particularly in relation to causation. Second, the paper links current medical practice to certain ontological assumptions. Finally, the outlines of an alternative ontology of causation are offered which place characteristic features of MUS, such as genuine complexity, context-sensitivity, holism and medical uniqueness at the centre of any causal set-up, and not only for MUS. This alternative ontology provides a framework in which to better understand complex medical conditions in relation to both their nature and their associated research activity.

Citation

Eriksen, T. E., Kerry, R., Mumford, S., Lie, S. A. N., & Anjum, R. L. (2013). At the borders of medical reasoning: aetiological and ontological challenges of medically unexplained symptoms. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, 8(11), https://doi.org/10.1186/1747-5341-8-11

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Sep 4, 2013
Deposit Date Mar 31, 2014
Publicly Available Date Mar 31, 2014
Journal Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine
Electronic ISSN 1747-5341
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 8
Issue 11
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/1747-5341-8-11
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/718036
Publisher URL http://www.peh-med.com/content/8/1/11

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