What does "their" refer to in this sentence?

Question

Although the benefit of the critical care unit is related to the availability of these physiologic data, practitioners must exercise clinical judgment and avoid the temptation to collect data for their own sake.

My question is "their" refers to what in the sentence.

(I think it refers to "data", but could it be also interpreted as referring to "practitioners"?)

Philip · Accepted Answer

MapleAlthough the benefit of the critical care unit is related to the availability of these physiologic data, practitioners must exercise clinical judgment and avoid the temptation to collect data for their own sake.

My question is "their" refers to what in the sentence.

(I think it refers to "data", but could it be also interpreted as referring to "practitioners"?)

'Their' refers to 'practitioners'. Otherwise, it would be 'data for the sake of collecting' or something like that.

Maple · Answer

I just thought "to collect data for their own sake" equals "to collect data for data themselves (or itself-I'm not sure), but not for the benefit of the patients; i.e. for clinical purpose".

Maybe the context will give more clues:

Although the contributions of cell and molecular biology to critical care medicine are substantial, the critical care unit resembles somewhat a physiology laboratory, wherein variables such as heart rate and blood pressure are measured in an online fashion, and the effects of interventions such as vasoactive drugs can be directly observed. Although the benefit of the critical care unit is related to the availability of these physiologic data, practitioners must exercise clinical judgment and avoid the temptation to collect data for their own sake.

Thanks for your comments!

Maple · Answer

I've just read this thread again. It seems that it will give the reader an impression that I know the answer. But it's not true. The fact is I still don't know what their exactly refers to. I only have an inclination that it should refer to data. Sorry for my unskilled expression.

Inchoateknowledge · Answer

MapleI've just read this thread again. It seems that it will give the reader an impression that I know the answer. But it's not true. The fact is I still don't know what their exactly refers to. I only have an inclination that it should refer to data. Sorry for my unskilled expression.

practitioners must (exercise clinical judgment and) avoid the temptation to collect data for their own sake.

their = practitioner

Marius Hancu · Answer

Vary rarely would a doctor collect data for making himself pleasure.
He/she does for for a purpose, e.g. a research project, etc.

When the purpose is undefined/unclear, the data are collected meaninglessly or in an exagerated fashion (including bothering patients in critical condition).

Their refers to data, IMO. One could BTW invoke the proximity between data and their for drawing the same conclusion.

Inchoateknowledge · Answer

no

Anonymous · Answer

I'd agree with Maple.

It is confusing because both practitioners and data are plural.

If theirs were referred to practitioners, in this example: "I study for its own sake", we should have "I study for my own sake", shouldn't we?

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=56799&dict=CALD

for its own sake
If you do something for its own sake, you do it because it is interesting and enjoyable, and not because you have or need to do it:
I study for its own sake.

May I ask another question? Could the following be possible?

Although the benefit of the critical care unit is related to the availability of these physiologic data, practitioners must exercise clinical judgment and avoid the temptation to collect data for itsown sake.

(its= the action of collectiong data?)

Inchoateknowledge · Answer

the practitioners must avoid temptation to collect data for their own advantage

the benefit of this contraption is related to the availibility of the data.

Marius Hancu · Answer

Inchoateknowledgethe benefit of this contraption is related to the availibility of the data.

So what? Even if data are readily available, one should not collect them for the sake of the data, which means for the sake of having more data. Available doesn't mean already collected.

Marius Hancu · Answer

BTW, someone isn't doing their job of posting the original link:
-------
Management of the critically ill patient should be based primarily on
an understanding of physiology and pathophysiology. Although the
contributions of cell and molecular biology to critical care medicine
are substantial, the critical care unit resembles somewhat a
physiology laboratory, wherein variables such as heart rate and blood
pressure are measured in an online fashion, and the effects of
interventions such as vasoactive drugs can be directly
observed. Although the benefit of the critical care unit is related to
the availability of these physiologic data, practitioners must
exercise clinical judgment and avoid the temptation to collect data
for their own sake.

http://www.merckmedicus.com/ppdocs/us/common/cecils/chapters/098_004.htm
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What does "their" refer to in this sentence?

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