Abstract

RAIMONDO, Roberto. Toward a systemic and informational theory of medical diagnostic process. Interdisciplinaria [online]. 2004, n.esp, pp.49-60. ISSN 1668-7027.

Bertalanffy's System Theory created the possibility of regular comprehension of a reality and changes occurring in it, supposed some part of it is isolated like a system. Also Prigogine stated it is possible to assume that complex systems can maintain evolutionary increments of order and energy against the rising entropy. Further, Rimoldi defined medical diagnosis as an informational process to reduce uncertainty. Based on both, here is postulated diagnostic process as a significant equivalence among the patient's clinical situation and the understanding that doctor has about it, also both share objectives: to reduce the uncertainty-entropy about the patient's condition. On these bases, a classification is proposed about general steps in diagnostic process. Besides, as a practical example, an application is made for four of the more general procedures existing to asses diagnostic process.

Keywords : Information theory; systemic theory; medical diagnostic theory.

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