Medical Nihilism, Hardcover by Stegenga, Jacob, ISBN 0198747047, ISBN-13 9780198747048, Like New Used, Free shipping in the US Medical nihilism is the view that we should have little confidence in the effectiveness of medical interventions. Jacob Stegenga argues persuasively that this is how we should see modern medicine, and suggests that medical research must be modified, clinical practice should be less aggressive, and regulatory standards should be enhanced.