Limits of Evidence-Based Medicine: A Critical Appraisal

Wayne Rosen, University of Calgary

Thursday, March 21, 2024

4:00-6:00 pm

Watson Hall, Room 517 

When it was introduced over 30 years ago, the concept of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) was described as a “paradigm shift” in the practice of Medicine. Since its inception it has grown to become the dominant paradigm for how to teach, learn and practice medicine. Yet from an epistemic perspective, its predominant position in modern Medicine is not actually evidence-based. Anyone familiar with contemporary medical practice will confirm it appears to be awash in kuhnian-like anomalies. This discussion explores the concept of EBM and highlights the deeply problematic assumptions at the heart of the EBM enterprise. Have advances in modern medical practice truly occurred because of EBM or rather in spite of it