Educational Strategies to Prepare Trainees for Clinical Uncertainty
Abstract
To the Editor: Perhaps Ilgen and Dhaliwal, who address clinical uncertainty in their review article (Oct. 23 issue), 1 will agree that three factors in the current medical climate are aligned to mislead trainees, as well as the general public, to have them believe in certainty much beyond what is realistic. The administrative systems that are based on diagnosis-related groups hardly ever accept uncertainty, electronic medical records allow for very little uncertainty, and the widespread use of classification criteria directly counteracts the notion of uncertainty. Perhaps recognizing these forces will mitigate some of the harm they do in this regard, and . . .
Fields of Study & Subjects
Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
Innovations in Medical Education
Empathy and Medical Education
Publication details
- Journal / source
- New England Journal of Medicine
- Volume
- 394
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 518–520
- Publication date
- 28 January 2026
- Language
- EN