On the uses and abuses of biomarkers in clinical reasoning
Abstract
Biomarkers are central to the practice of precision oncology, which looks to novel biomarkers to 'personalize' cancer care. Philosophers have highlighted epistemic issues surrounding biomarkers but a general account of their role in clinical reasoning is lacking. This article examines biomarker use in clinical reasoning through the lens of abstraction. I propose clinical abstraction as a descriptive and normative account of reasoning with biomarkers that overcomes epistemic and ethical problems raised in the literature.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
Ethics in Clinical Research
Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A
- Volume
- 115
- Pages
- 102108–102108
- Publication date
- 2 January 2026
- Language
- EN