Managing Uncertainty-A Medical Anthropological Perspective

Abstract

　The core curriculum of the Japanese medical schools was revised in 2017. As a result, medical anthropology and sociology were integrated into the curriculum. The knowledge of these disciplines is especially useful in the medical settings where uncertainty emerges due to biomedicine's sometimes limited ability to provide concrete answers. Since the late 20th century, early intervention based on epidemiological facts has been prevalent in medicine, and individuals are required to be responsible for their own bodies and taming the risks of future diseases. However, epidemiological risks can never predict an individual's future precisely. Patients inevitably face uncertainty and sometimes make choices that appear irrational in the eyes of science. In such a situation, medical anthropology and sociology give medical professionals perspectives that allow them to consider the choices of patients as shaped by their sociocultural and political-economic backgrounds. These perspectives will establish the place foundation for constructive dialogues between healthcare professionals and patients.