Finite Game or Infinite Game: A Philosophical Interpretation of Doctor-patient Conflict / 中国医学伦理学

ABSTRACT

It is a new attempt to interpret the essence of doctor-patient relationship and reveal the mechanism of doctor-patient conflict by using game theory. According to James Cass’s philosophy theory of finite and infinite games, this paper applies the four elements of finite and infinite games "goal-actor-rule-boundary". Combined with the four elements of game theory, the doctor-patient relationship was systematically interpreted, and the evolution model of finite games and infinite games was constructed. This paper held that the essence of doctor-patient relationship is an infinite game in theory, the nature of doctor-patient relationship is a finite game in reality, and doctor-patient conflict is the result of the evolution of the finite game of doctor-patient relationship. Based on the finite game evolution model, this paper analyzed the causes of doctor-patient conflict in the specific narrative of doctor-patient conflict, and pointed out that the doctor-patient relationship can only be resolved by changing their "game view", so as to achieve the transcendence of the doctor-patient relationship from finite game to infinite game.