[The phenomenon of "evidence-based medicine"]

Abstract

Evidence-based medicine originates in 1992 when the proliferation of medical publications and other clinically relevant information was neither organized nor efficiently employed, aggravating concerns on the ethical duty of its incorporation to clinical decision making. Development of clinical research and its methods have changed the nature of medical knowledge, "changing the paradigm" leading to need for changing both practice organization and the contents of continuous education. This is the "objective basis" of evidence-based medicine. Since evidence-based medicine emphasizes the clinician's judgement and asses the knowledge basis of his practice, reinforces professional autonomy compared to other considerations, thus having political and ethical implications. Evidence-based medicine redefines in its own terms professional excellence.