quite late ...
Medicine is medicine.
Medicine HAS to be (best available) Evidence Based.
Evidence is not the only base for Medicine.
what about it?
dr. Federico Barbani
Health Purchasing Unit
Health Authority Modena
via San Giovanni del Cantone n. 23
41100 MODENA - Italy
tel. 059/435813 - 435313
fax 059/435703
----- Original Message -----
From: Gareth Morgan
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 9:53 AM
Subject: What is the alternative
Hi
I have been a member of this mailbase for quite a while and would like to start a debate about definitions. I finally decided to look for a definition of evidence based medicine and this is one I came up with.
a.. Evidence-based medicine is a medical movement based upon the application of the scientific method to medical practice, including long-established existing medical traditions not yet subjected to adequate scientific scrutiny. According to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, "Evidence-based medicine is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients."
b.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence_based_medicine
The definition is what I expected and seems to be quite obvious but the problem I have is what is the alternative to EBM - myths and legends, old wives tales? Surely all medicine/medical practice (in my limited understanding) should be based on evidence and "conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients." . Am I missing something here, being a heretic or is this a case of "the kings new clothes"?
Most reports seem top take it for granted that there is an mass/group understanding of what it is all about.
Grateful for responses
With best wishes,
Gareth
http://www.ki.se/biomedlab
e-mail [log in to unmask]
Tel +46 8 5858 1038
Fax +46 8 5858 7730
Gareth Morgan MPhil MSc FIBMS,
Department of Histo/cytopathology, Laboratory Medicine (Labmed),
Karolinska Institute,
Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, F46
SE 141 86 Stockholm
Sweden
OBS! Besöksadress: F-Huset, Forskningsgatan 2 F52, Rum 2.10. Laboratoriet för klinisk patologi och cytologi.
NB! Visiting address: Building F, Research Corridor 2 F52, Room 2.10. Clinical Histo- and Cytopathology Laboratory.
