On the problems of computer-assisted treament choice

The diagnostic process is often considered the acme of the physicians skill and greatest attention is given to it in computer simulation. In practice, however, the diagnosis is only the first stage of medical care to which the next stage is linked up, the treatment choice. Decision making does not finish with the making of diagnosis, on the contrary, it rather begins. There even are situations in which the diagnosis is not definitely made, notwithstanding the treatment must be launched. In such cases the treatment plan is given by the symptoms. That is comprehensible, because the diagnosis is an artificial, historically conditioned entity, whereas the symptoms are objective manifestations of a disease and they are not dependent upon the medical knowledge and approach.