The Logic of Clinical Reasoning in Medicine

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Federico Alfano
Daniel Moya

Abstract

Three modes of inference underpin clinical reasoning: abduction, deduction, and induction. Abduction generates plausible explanations or diagnostic hypotheses at the outset of evaluation. Deduction guides the selection of tests to probe the consequences of those hypotheses and to assess whether the presumptive diagnosis accounts for all clinical findings. Induction then compares the hypotheses’ predictions with observable facts to determine whether the expected findings are indeed present.

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How to Cite
Alfano, F., & Moya, D. (2025). The Logic of Clinical Reasoning in Medicine. Revista De La Asociación Argentina De Ortopedia Y Traumatología, 90(4), 396-404. https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2025.90.4.2127
Section
Artículo Especial
Author Biographies

Federico Alfano, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

Daniel Moya, Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

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