Image: A microscopic conceptual visualization of breast cancer cells

Risk & Representation: A Tumor Board StudyChrista B. Teston | Kent State University

Haas & Witte (2001); Bracewell & Witte (2003); Bazerman (1994); Bazerman & Prior (2004); Barton (2004); Sauer (1996); Medway (1996); Winsor (2001)

See Herndl, Fennell, and Miller (1991); Walzer & Gross (1994); Sauer (1996)

See Simon (1976); Varela, Thompson, and Rosch (1991); and Baron (2006)

Q: What means and modes of deliberation do medical workplace professionals

employ while constructing and communicating knowledge

about future action?

Problems of action = Problems of knowledge

(Miller, 1990)

“uncertainty lies in the discrepancy between

information available and information needed”

(Miller re: Herbert A. Simon, 1990)

•Weekly, 60 min meetings

•Collaborative, multidisciplinary medical

discussions about “difficult” patient cases

•Patient is not present

•Decisions are made about potential treatment

options

•Standards of care collide with in situ, clinical

practice

Tumor Boards

Tumor Board handout’s opening statement

“This is a patient-oriented conference which we hope will provide a forum for rendering multi-disciplinary opinion and benefit our patients with cancer.”

1 : gesturing {+ pointer}

2 : imaging {base-line comparisons of MRI, CT,

PET}

3 : metaphor{Lakoff & Johnson's Conceptual}

The Case of "Edith"

(reference handout)

The Case of "Edith"

21 minutes of deliberation

Gesture: at least 24

Imaging: at least 7

Conceptual metaphor: at least 41

metaphormetaphora=transfere

nce

meta (over)

pherin (carry)

“carry over”

L & J: conceptual metaphor

Linguistic representations

of reality are founded in

subjective and sensorimotor experiences

Figure 1

Figure 2

Conceptual mapping

A B

BA

Conceptual mapping

Metaphor that has explanatory &

descriptive power

Conceptual mapping

A: Prior spatial | bodilyexperiences

B: Unknown,difficult, complex

process(es)

BA

Conceptual mapping

bodily experience aids in understanding

complex concepts

Image: A microscopic conceptual visualization of breast cancer cells

Risk & Representation: A Tumor Board StudyChrista B. Teston | Kent State University