Thanks, Jacqueline
I found the recent responses simply fascinating....I also note that if you read attempts of philosophers (including some very famous ones) to define the concept of evidence, you will see huge differences in definitions and interpretations... with so many different interpretation and calls for evidence to fill so many different roles, it is no wonder that EBM has been so widely (mis)interpreted...Perhaps, non-English speaking world got it right- we should avoid the concept of evidence but be specific about what we are talking about: proof (Dutch, German, Spanish, Portuegese), fact (Slavic languages, French), witness (Hindi), effectiveness (Italian), knowledge (Norwegian) - all of this (including other grounds for beliefs) is meant or overlap with the concept of evidence as discussed by various authors in English language.
best
-----Original Message-----
From: Laika Spoetnik [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 6:18 AM
To: [log in to unmask]; Djulbegovic, Benjamin
Subject: Re: another epistemological question..
Dear Ben.
You're quite right. In Dutch for instance there is no correct translation of
evidence based medicine. Our language makes no difference between proof and
evidence and it surely isn't proof based medicine: you're looking for the
best evidence there is, even if the best evidence is weak (no proof nor
fact-which is even harder)
So we always begin our courses by explaining that we can't translate the
term, because the Dutch word 'bewijs' means proof. But evidence can be very
hard or very soft, whereas proof is always very hard.
I.m.o. if the translation isn't adequate it is better not to 'translate',
but use the foreign term.
Jacqueline Limpens
http://laikaspoetnik.wordpress.com/
http://twitter.com/laikas
On Thu, 8 Jan 2009 08:40:48 -0500, Djulbegovic, Benjamin
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Dear all
>
>On several occasions I have been told by those who teach EBM in non-English
speaking countries that there is no adequate translation of term
"evidence-based medicine". EBM is typically translated as "fact-based
medicine" or "proof-based medicine". Since this is very much international
discussion group, I wonder if those colleagues who work in non-English
speaking countries may comment on linguistic meaning (and translation) of
EBM in their languages. This may shed some light on ongoing epistemological
discussion....
>
>ben
>
>
>Benjamin Djulbegovic, MD, PhD
>Professor of Medicine and Oncology
>Co-Director of Clinical Translation Science Institute
>Director of Center for Evidence-based Medicine and Health Outcomes Research
>
>
>Mailing Address:
>USF Health Clinical Research
>12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC02
> Tampa, FL 33612
>
>Phone # 813-396-9178
>Fax # 813-974-5411
>
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>______________________
>
>Campus Address: MDC02
>
>Office Address :
>13101 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard,
>CMS3057
>Tampa, FL 33612
>
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