Abstract
The medical concept of prognosis is analysed into its basic constituents: patient data, medical intervention, outcome, utilities and probabilities; and sources of utility and probability values are discussed. Prognosis cannot be divorced from contemplated medical action, nor from action to be taken by the patient in response to prognostication. Regrettably, the usual decision-theoretic approach ignores this latter aspect. Elicitation of utilities, decision contemplation and prognostic counselling interweave, diagnostics playing a subsidiary role in decision-oriented clinical practice. At times the doctor has grounds for withholding information. As this is known to the patient, prognostic counselling becomes a conflict-prone and rationality-thwarting activity. The meaning of standard phrases such as “prognosis of a disease”, “the prognosis of this patient”, “the prognosis is unknown”, is examined.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The completion of this work was facilitated by the Australian Research Grants Committee's sponsoring Jørgen Hilden's visiting research fellowship at the University of Queensland, Department of Mathematics. We are grateful to a number of statistical and medical colleagues for helpful discussion of our ideas and for written criticism of earlier drafts: D. M. Chaput de Saintonge, T. Durbridge, P. Glasziou, M. Healy, A. Nielsen, A. Redford, A. F. M. Smith, and the Brisbane physicians' decision-making group headed by G. Cavaye.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hilden, J., Habbema, J.D.F. Prognosis in medicine: An analysis of its meaning and rôles. Theor Med Bioeth 8, 349–365 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00489469
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00489469