Uncertainty in Medicine: A Shared Experience - Part 3
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve come across in the medical literature is from Dr. Galina Gheilman et and colleagues, in their journal article 12 Tips for Thriving in the Face of Clinical Uncertainty. I’d like to share five of my personal favorites from their tips—principles I try to carry with me in clinic every day:
1. Plan for Uncertainty
Be proactive. If you anticipate things may evolve, prepare your patients "If you develop a fever or shortness of breath, please call the on-call doctor or go to the emergency department." Have a built-in plan for follow-up. Knowing there’s a next step can ease anxiety—for both doctor and patient.
2. Don’t Worry Alone Talk to your colleagues. Use your team. Discussing complex or uncertain cases with others helps not only in decision-making but in building a culture of support. It’s NORMAL to not know everything. 3. Promote Curiosity Over Certainty When teaching medical students or residents, I emphasize the joy of asking questions and the thrill of not knowing. Uncertainty is not failure—it’s the beginning of inquiry. It's how we grow. 4. Be Open with Patients About Uncertainty I've become more comfortable telling patients’ things like: "I’m not sure about the answer yet. I need to look it up, or consult a colleague. We may not have a definitive answer today." Being honest—and doing so with compassion—builds trust and reduces anxiety. 5. Accept That Medicine Will Only Get More Complex With new tests, treatments, guidelines and technologies, both patients and physicians will face more choices—and more ambiguity. We need tools and mechanisms to navigate uncertainty; in order to have the resilience to thrive in it