Ethics and Evidence-Based Medicine
Fallibility and Responsibility in Clinical Science

Reviews the conceptual basis of evidence-based medicine and the ethical issues it gives rise to.

Kenneth W. Goodman (Author)

9780521819336, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 November 2002

184 pages, 1 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.44 kg

'This is a well-written and readable book. Despite the complexity of some of the arguments, the language of the book is down-to-earth and intelligible. Every effort is made to make the book accessible to the passing reader - it is the sort of book you could pick up and put down, or read on the train. This is not to say it is a lightweight analysis, but rather to say that it aims at getting the message across to all those involved in health practice and research rather than at providing an academic reference book … anyone who wants to know and understand the content and context of EBM would be well advised to read it. This is a valuable contribution to the EBM debate …' Public Health

The growth of evidence-based medicine has occurred against a backdrop of health care reform, managed care, cost containment and quality improvement, and clinicians have been urged to adopt the rigours of science while remaining true to their 'clinical judgement'. This tension - between efforts to make medical practice more scientific and the suspicions of many clinicians - has caused one of the greatest practical and ethical challenges in the history of the health professions. This incisive book reviews the history and conceptual origins of evidence-based practice, and discusses key ethical issues that arise in clinical practice, public health and health policy. Essential reading for all physicians, and practitioners in epidemiology and public health, it will also be suitable as a text in medical and public health school courses on evidence-based practice.

Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Foundations and history of evidence-based practice
2. The research synthesis revolution
3. Evidence of evidence, and other conceptual challenges
4. Human subjects, the internet, databases and data mining
5. Evidence at the bedside
6. Public health policy, uncertainty and genetics
7. Ethics and evidence
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA], Epidemiology & medical statistics [MBNS], Medical ethics & professional conduct [MBDC]