If not evidence, then what? Or does medicine really need a base? Journal Articles

abstract

• AbstractThis essay analyses the concept of ‘base’ in relation to its use in evidence‐based medicine (EBM). It evaluates the extent to which evidence provides a sufficient base for health care to rest and discusses whether medicine needs a base, and, if so, what are the other possible candidates. This paper will argue that EBM is linked epistemologically to the theory of foundationalism and shows how important criticisms of EBM emerge from anti‐foundationalist epistemologies and interpretive frameworks. Drawing from recent writings in the philosophy of science, it is argued that there is a need to see multiple perspectives relevant to the practice and understanding of medicine.

authors

• Upshur, Ross

status

• published 

publication date

• May 2002

has subject area

• 1117 Public Health and Health Services (FoR)
• Evidence-Based Medicine (MeSH)
• Health Policy & Services (Science Metrix)
• Humans (MeSH)
• Knowledge (MeSH)
• Philosophy, Medical (MeSH)

published in

• Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice  Journal

keywords

• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Knowledge
• Philosophy, Medical

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1046/j.1365-2753.2002.00356.x

PubMed ID

• 12180359

start page

• 113

end page

• 119

volume

• 8

issue

• 2