Responsive Equanimity to Uncertainty: Towards the Construction of a Concept for Handling Medical Uncertainty in Clinical Practice

The objective of this study is to elaborate an overall concept of addressing uncertainty in clinical practice that covers a series of specific characteristics. To do so, a conceptual engineering approach has been applied, starting with describing the concepts that exist and are in use. Based on this description the functional quality of these concepts (representational devices) is evaluated and a series of criteria for an improved concept is developed. Four alternatives, each with special merits, are presented, suitable for different context, i.e., bearing the burdens of uncertainty, mindful adaptability, compassionate resilience, and responsive equanimity. Among these, responsive equanimity emerges as the most robust generic concept, meeting the majority of criteria at a general level. These results are open for debate and revision before implementation and evaluation.