Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Issues of Proof in Health Science

Edited By: Léo Coutellec, Amélie Petit

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How do we make rational decisions in medicine with contradictory data? This interdisciplinary book explores the scientific and ethical issues of proof, questioning the value of physicians' experience, the relevance of data, and the reliability of biomedical knowledge.

This book offers an interdisciplinary reflection on the scientific and ethical issues of the notion of proof in medicine. The book poses the following questions:…

This book offers an interdisciplinary reflection on the scientific and ethical issues of the notion of proof in medicine. The book poses the following questions: why does an argument convince? How does one make a rational decision in the face of contradictory data? Why and how can we prioritize levels of evidence? What is the value of physicians’ professional experience in the production of evidence? By asking these questions, this book highlights the debates surrounding the notions of robustness, relevance and statistical significance regarding different conceptions of the reliability of biomedical knowledge. It is intended for both biomedical scientists (clinicians, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, etc.) and researchers in the social sciences and humanities who are interested in the social organization of clinical trials and in decision-making in a context of uncertainty. It also provides a better understanding of social issues in specific contexts, such as gynecological care, prevention policies, significance tests, and the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Léo Coutellec is a professor of philosophy of science at the University of Paris-Saclay (France), director of the “research in epistemology and ethics” team at the Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (Paris-Saclay University), and the author of several books, including The Future of Health. For an Ethics of Anticipation (2018), and the chapter ‘Ethics and Scientific Integrity in Biomedical Research. Debates on Trust, Robustness, and Relevance’ in the Handbook of Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity (2020).

Amélie Petit is a postdoctoral researcher of sociology in the “research in epistemology and ethics” at the Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (Paris-Saclay University). Her research focuses on the organization of biomedical research and the conduct of clinical trials. She is interested in how the establishment of epistemic and ethical rules allows different actors to cooperate and ensure patient safety and data reliability. She is currently conducting research on how neurologists deal with the repeated failure of experimental treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

Bruno Falissard, Clément Tarantini, Robin Michalon, Elie Azria, Vincent Israël-Jost, Timothy Daly, Léo Coutellec, Amélie Petit