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Projected diagnosis, anticipatory medicine, and uncertainty: How medical providers ‘rule out’ potential pregnancy in contraceptive counseling

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  • Brown, Eliza

Abstract

This article builds on theories of anticipatory medicine and diagnostic uncertainty using the critical case of ruling out pregnancy. Through discourse analysis of 224 patient visits from the Patient-Provider Communication about Contraception Study in which medical providers assess the probability of pregnancy, this article compares cases with and without material evidence and reliable tests. This article demonstrates that in cases in which providers do not currently have access to the tests and tools to which they are accustomed, they continue to reach for additional versions of the potential pregnancy. As part of this, providers may mobilize a version of potential pregnancy using unseen or anticipated events inside the patient's body. Thus, the practice of diagnosis not only involves oscillating between observed material and known categories, but also between habituated practices and projected possibilities. This article expands our understanding of anticipatory medicine, diagnostic uncertainty, and medical authority by considering the role of the missing and unseen.

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  • Brown, Eliza, 2020. "Projected diagnosis, anticipatory medicine, and uncertainty: How medical providers ‘rule out’ potential pregnancy in contraceptive counseling," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:258:y:2020:i:c:s0277953620303373
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113118
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    References listed on IDEAS

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