Clinical judgment and sometimes ethical judgment enter into these decisions where there are often no right or wrong answers and where there are no textbooks or RCTs that tell us what to do.
predecessor - something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone. harbinger, herald, forerunner, precursor. indicant, indication - something that serves to indicate or suggest; an indication of foul play; indications of strain; symptoms are the prime indicants of disease.
The noun PRECURSOR has 3 senses: 1. a substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction) 2. a person who goes before or announces the coming of another. 3. an indication of the approach of something or someone. Familiarity information: PRECURSOR used as a noun is uncommon. Dictionary entry details.