Ambiguous Concept
POSSIBLY_EQUIVALENT_TO association reference set (foundation metadata concept)
The inactivation reason “Ambiguous Concept” with association type “POSSIBLY_EQUIVALENT_TO” explicitly states that the concept to be inactivated is inherently ambiguous but that each of the potential meanings represented by the ambiguous concept is semantically identical to one of the “POSSIBLY_EQUIVALENT_TO” target concepts, whether currently present or could be created in SNOMED CT.
The implication of this definition is that for any given ambiguous concept there must be 2 or more POSSIBLY_EQUIVALENT_TO target concepts.
- Resolve all non or partial synonymous synonyms first by inactivation as "Not semantically equivalent component' and the association type of "REFERS_TO" reassigning the description to either an existing concept or if necessary creating a new concept.
- Where a concept's ambiguity results from a classification disjunction or conjunction use the inactivation reason of "Classification concept".
- Where the modeling of the concept is at variance with the meaning of the FSN, correct the modeling - this advice may change once the QI project has been completed and ECL is widely used.
- Identify ALL possible meanings that arise from the ambiguity. Identify semantically equivalent SCT concepts where they exist, and create new concepts where they do not exist.
Inactivation Reason | Association Type | Description |
---|---|---|
Ambiguous | “POSSIBLY_EQUIVALENT_TO” | This inactivation reason explicitly states that the inactivated concept is inherently ambiguous but that each of the potential meanings represented by the ambiguous concept is semantically identical to one of the “POSSIBLY_EQUIVALENT_TO” target concepts, whether currently present or could be created in SNOMED CT. The implication of this definition is that for any given ambiguous concept there must be 2 or more POSSIBLY_EQUIVALENT_TO target concepts. |
Guidance | ||
Identify ALL possible meanings that arise from the ambiguity. Identify semantically equivalent SCT concepts where they exist, and create new concepts where they do not exist.
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