Hello everyone --
In 1980 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, DS Brody
claimed that "If medical practice were
based on truly objective scientific data, it would be very easy to
make defendable decisions without any fear of self-reproach.
Unfortunately, medicine is not an accomplished scienceŠthere are
tremendous gaps in scientific knowledge. Most of a physician's
daily decisions do not involve situations that have been tested in
double-blind, randomized trialsŠfor [estimated] 90% of medical
conditions there is either no specific remedy or effectiveness of
treatment is unknown" (p. 720)
Does anyone happen to know of a more current reference (since
2000) that gives an updated estimate of the percentage of medical
conditions for which there is no specific remedy or for which the
effectiveness of treatments is unknown? Is it still 90%, or have
we made some progress since 1980? A published estimate from the
peer-reviewed literature would be most helpful, but I'd also be
interested in people's own estimates, based on their familiarity with
the literature.
Thanks for your help.
--
Ruth J. Cronje, PhD
Assistant Professor
Scientific and Technical Rhetoric
University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire