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0 pointsdragonwriter12y ago0 comments

> Doctors are people like any other. But they've spent years specializing in evidence based medicine.

Evidence-based medicine [1] as a norm is actually a surprisingly new thing. Assuming that because someone is a doctor they've "spent years specializing" in it is probably optimistic.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_medicine

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bdesimone12y ago

EB as a term is new, the specialization is not.

Most here are engineers with a BS/BA. Maybe a MA. And fewer still with a PhD. Not that education is everything, but it's certainly "years specializing."

Compare that to the track of a typical specialist md:

After your undergrad degree you've got.... 4 years in med school. 4-6 years in residency. Plus a 1-3 year fellowship.

Long story short, what's the credible alternative to relying on multiple expert opinions? Are educated (engineers/lawyers/etc) ordering tests based on research they really don't understand on themselves a better? By what evidence?

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