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This is a classic argument from ignorance:

"Fundamentally there is not as much value to be obtained by having the ability to do a structured query into multiple patients’ data. Nor is there much value in being able to do a structured query into a single patient’s data."

ie: I can't imagine anyway to do these queries that derives value, so fundamentally there is no value.

I'm far removed from the healthcare industry, but I'm absolutely positive there are correlations hidden in those files. How would you ever spot commonalities between similar patients' histories without structured records?



The question isn't how many correlations are in the files but how many of them are real. Medical records aren't a random sample and have no controls.


It's not an argument from ignorance, it's a simple assertion. An argument from ignorance would be saying that because we don't know what value there is to be obtained, there is no value(or the value is limitless.)

Condemning polemic for making assertions is kind of missing the point of polemic. It isn't like he isn't trying multiple arguments to suggest these assertions may be true.




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