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EDITOR'S CHOICE: Jane Smith From optimism to hubris BMJ 2004; 329: 0-h [Full text]

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Interest in Evidence appears Vested

Andrew J Ashworth   (1 November 2004)

re editorial

Norman J Vetter   (1 November 2004)

Medicine - Art or Science?

Dr David B Edmondson   (26 November 2004)

Interest in Evidence appears Vested 1 November 2004
Andrew J Ashworth, GP Principal Davidson's Mains Medical Centre, 5 Quality Street, EDINBURGH EH4 5BP Send response to journal: Re: Interest in Evidence appears Vested	Of nine editorial writers whose job titles appear to make them dependant on peddling evidence only one declares any interest at all. Will the BMJ publish a full list of competing interests so that readers are better equipped to consider the evidence of the advocates of EBM? Competing interests: I remain wary of "cure-alls" including the academic variety.
re editorial 1 November 2004
Norman J Vetter, Reader, Public Health Cardiff University Send response to journal: Re: re editorial	The pen is mightier than the pneumothorax? Competing interests: None declared
Medicine - Art or Science? 26 November 2004
Dr David B Edmondson, GP Victoria Gate Surgery, Taunton, TA1 3EX Send response to journal: Re: Medicine - Art or Science?	Dear Sir Re: Evidence Based Medicine: Does it make a difference? BMJ - 30 October 2004 With the BMA devoting its 30 October edition to this subject, it makes me realise that I am not worrying alone. This is comforting, as I wrestle with the dilemma as to whether medicine is an art or a science. Part of the problem is that we managed for thousands of years with very little science; but the advances over the last 25 years have been quite electrifying. Not only is it very difficult for professionals to keep up to date with all the advances, but this is magnified by public expectation that everything can be treated,and immediately. To a certain extent also, by academics who are divorced from the ‘hurly burly’ of medicine at the ‘coalface.’ The advances, of course, are welcome and it is encouraging to see many people now surviving where they used to succumb at an early age. If we are not careful however, this headlong dash into evidence based medicine is going to leave many clinicians behind. I fear too that it will be to the detriment of many people looking for the human contact encapsulated in the doctor/patient relationship – this must not be under- estimated. Whilst many people do benefit from advances in medicine, the majority may be forgotten and we must not lose sight of this. Yours sincerely Dr D Edmondson Competing interests: None declared