[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by gemy

Thanks Phil for posting this more complete definition of what is meant by evidence based medicine. It is interesting to take note of the fact that clinical personal experience is highly factored into an evidenced based approach. There is nothing in the above definition that precludes naturopathic or homeopathic doctors from practising an evidence based approach. With the glaring exception of the fact that the body of scientific studies for herbal remedies (of one nature or another has not been built).


In my reading of the article below this person was not providing a definition of Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine in its totality - but as asserted in the first paragragh speaking to a specific question that they get quite commonly - ergo - where are the studies backing up your claims? And I have no doubt that is a question they often get! Certainly one I would ask.

I believe it is a common conception (perhaps misconception) that there are scientific studies in traditional medicine to back up every treatment plan a vet or an MD makes. This article is pointing out the fact that this is patently not so. Is this assertion valid? IDK. But common sense tells me it is so.


The author focussed on mechanism of action being unknown for many drugs out there. Is this a true statement of fact? IDK - How important is it to know the mechanism of action before prescribing a drug? Marketing it? Or is it more important to know that it works on some of the ppl some of the time - and if over time it is shown to be ineffective for condition a/b/c then you stop prescribing it.


I have a question for you Phil - I have heard recently that Canada and the USA signed an international agreement years ago - 15 or more years ago - signed an accord that said - the funders of the research *own the research* - and that includes publishing or not the results of the study. As of yet I have not been able to confirm that assertion. If true that is very disturbing to me.


Homeopathic medicine has a huge body of clinical experience available to the doctors of said medicine. At least that is my understanding.


I how-ever agree that this article whilst pointing out some of the short-comings of Western medicine does nothing to advance the validity of homeopathic or naturopathic discipline.

Thanks Ann for posting this article - although finding the links were tough.

This is similar to how I read/interpreted the article as well.