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Chapter 2. Argumentation and resolving differences of opinion

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Abstract

Argumentative discussions are part of everyday clinical discourse. Doctors and patients may explicitly or implicitly have different opinions about various issues, such as the causes of patients’ symptoms or the best course of action. Through argumentative discussions, these differences can be resolved. Medical standpoints, which can be advanced by both doctors and patients, may concern a myriad of topics and different types of standpoints can be distinguished (factual and predictive claims; judgments; recommendations). When a standpoint is advanced, it may meet with doubt (unmixed difference of opinion) or opposition (mixed difference of opinion). Verbal indicators in the text, as well as clues from the situational context, can be used to identify standpoints as well as their supporting arguments. Analytically, an argumentative discussion consists of four consecutive stages: confrontation, opening, argumentation, and conclusion. Knowing about these stages is helpful when striving to understand, analyze, and evaluate argumentation in clinical settings.

Abstract

Argumentative discussions are part of everyday clinical discourse. Doctors and patients may explicitly or implicitly have different opinions about various issues, such as the causes of patients’ symptoms or the best course of action. Through argumentative discussions, these differences can be resolved. Medical standpoints, which can be advanced by both doctors and patients, may concern a myriad of topics and different types of standpoints can be distinguished (factual and predictive claims; judgments; recommendations). When a standpoint is advanced, it may meet with doubt (unmixed difference of opinion) or opposition (mixed difference of opinion). Verbal indicators in the text, as well as clues from the situational context, can be used to identify standpoints as well as their supporting arguments. Analytically, an argumentative discussion consists of four consecutive stages: confrontation, opening, argumentation, and conclusion. Knowing about these stages is helpful when striving to understand, analyze, and evaluate argumentation in clinical settings.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface ix
  4. Chapter 1. Argumentation between doctors and patients 1
  5. Chapter 2. Argumentation and resolving differences of opinion 13
  6. Chapter 3. The argumentation structure 37
  7. Chapter 4. Assessing the soundness of argumentation 57
  8. Chapter 5. Fallacies in medical consultations 81
  9. Chapter 6. Strategic maneuvering in medical consultations 107
  10. Epilogue 131
  11. Terminology 135
  12. Overview of rules and fallacies 139
  13. Members Advisory Board 145
  14. About the authors 149
  15. References 151
  16. Index 153
Argumentation between Doctors and Patients
This chapter is in the book Argumentation between Doctors and Patients
https://doi.org/10.1075/z.235.c2

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface ix
  4. Chapter 1. Argumentation between doctors and patients 1
  5. Chapter 2. Argumentation and resolving differences of opinion 13
  6. Chapter 3. The argumentation structure 37
  7. Chapter 4. Assessing the soundness of argumentation 57
  8. Chapter 5. Fallacies in medical consultations 81
  9. Chapter 6. Strategic maneuvering in medical consultations 107
  10. Epilogue 131
  11. Terminology 135
  12. Overview of rules and fallacies 139
  13. Members Advisory Board 145
  14. About the authors 149
  15. References 151
  16. Index 153
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