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Where's the Evidence? Debates in Modern Medicine

Online ISBN:
9780191723568
Print ISBN:
9780192630889
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

Where's the Evidence? Debates in Modern Medicine

William A. Silverman
William A. Silverman

formerly Professor of Paediatrics

Columbia University
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Published online:
1 September 2009
Published in print:
15 April 1999
Online ISBN:
9780191723568
Print ISBN:
9780192630889
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

The chapters in this book focus on problems ignored. This book is a collection of critical and controversial chapters on intractable ethical issues and evidence-based problems in modern medicine. Although it is impossible to prevent all missteps in medicine, the book argues, a hedging strategy using concurrent controls when new therapies are introduced always reduces the number of patients killed or injured. It is dangerous to use treatments widely, it warns, before they are subject to rigorous comparative trials. Additionally, the book points out, questions have emerged about how to wield medicine's new capabilities wisely. How do we draw the line, it asks between ‘knowing’ (the acquisition of new medical information) and ‘doing’ (the application of that new knowledge). What are the long-term consequences (moral, social, economic, and biological) of responding to a demand that medicine always do everything that can be done?

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