Reference-Class Problems Are Real: Health-Adjusted Reference Classes and Low Bone Mineral Density.

Elselijn Kingma argues that Christopher Boorse's biostatistical theory (the BST) does not show how the reference classes it uses are objective and naturalistic. Recently, philosophers of medicine have attempted to rebut Kingma's concerns. I argue that these rebuttals are theoretically unconvincing,...

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Publicado en:Journal of Medicine & Philosophy Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 128 - 147
Autor principal: Binney, Nicholas
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA Apr2024
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Reference-Class Problems Are Real: Health-Adjusted Reference Classes and Low Bone Mineral Density.
      aug:
        au: Binney, Nicholas
        affil: Erasmus University Rotterdam , Rotterdam , The Netherlands
      su:
        Bone density
        Health literacy
        Body size
        Muscle mass
        Prior learning
      sug:
        subj:
          Bone density
          Health literacy
          Body size
          Muscle mass
          Prior learning
      keyword:
        Boorse
        Kingma
        low bone mineral density
        philosophy of medicine
        reference-class problem
        Werkhoven
      ab: Elselijn Kingma argues that Christopher Boorse's biostatistical theory (the BST) does not show how the reference classes it uses are objective and naturalistic. Recently, philosophers of medicine have attempted to rebut Kingma's concerns. I argue that these rebuttals are theoretically unconvincing, and that there are clear examples of physicians adjusting their reference classes according to their prior knowledge of health and disease. I focus on the use of age-adjusted reference classes to diagnose low bone mineral density in children. In addition to using the BST's age, sex, and species, physicians also choose to use other factors to define reference classes, such as pubertal status, bone age, body size, and muscle mass. I show that physicians calibrate the reference classes they use according to their prior knowledge of health and disease. Reference classes are also chosen for pragmatic reasons, such as to predict fragility fractures.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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