Premium
If not evidence, then what? Or does medicine really need a base?
Author(s) -
Upshur Ross E. G.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2753.2002.00356.x
Subject(s) - foundationalism , epistemology , evidence based medicine , base (topology) , relation (database) , health care , medline , knowledge base , philosophy of science , philosophy , engineering ethics , psychology , law , political science , computer science , engineering , mathematical analysis , mathematics , database , world wide web
This 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.