Thanks Paul
This is an excellent response.
However, I want to point out a small, but important detail that is
potentially misleading in the description of what EBM does. The article
says "Evidence informs us of the benefits, risks, and burdens associated
with management alternatives."
I think it would be more accurate to say "Evidence informs us of the
outcomes (benefits and harms), probabilities of the outcomes, and
burdens associated with management alternatives."
In the original sentence "risks" is used to mean both "probabilities of
harms" (which is appropriate) and "harms" (which is not quite accurate).
And, "benefits" misleadingly conveys the impression that beneficial
outcomes are certain.
Michael
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Dr Michael Power
Clinical Knowledge Author, Guideline Developer and Informatician
Prodigy Knowledge http://www.prodigy.nhs.uk/
Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics at Newcastle Ltd
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Glasziou [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 12 September 2006 22:14
Subject: Re: Bernadine Healy agrees we're "microfascists" - a reply
Dear All,
Here is the final post back to US news - its been accepted but I don't
know when it will appear,
Paul Glasziou
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