Misdiagnosis of Chronic Pain: A Bioethical Problem‪.‬

ABSTRACT Chronic pain imposes a considerable toll on modern health care. Undiagnosed pain impacts the lives of those affected, families, employers, and the economy, and it puts a significant financial burden on the healthcare system. Millions of individuals around the world across all age populations suffer from chronic pain. Despite it being widespread, the biological origins of chronic pain remain poorly understood. As such, treatment of chronic pain is centered on pain reduction techniques, and not pain resolution techniques. This paper discusses possible causes why chronic pain diagnoses continue to plague the medical community and questions whether the diagnosis of chronic pain should be utilized at all.