title: Evidence-based medicine and quality of care.
abstract: In this paper we set out to examine the arguments for and against the claim that Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) will improve the quality of care. In particular, we examine the following issues: 1. Are there hidden ethical assumptions in the methodology of EBM? 2. Is there a tension between the duty of care and EBM? 3. How can patient preferences be incorporated into quality guidelines and effectiveness studies? 4. Is there a tension between the quality of a particular intervention and overall quality of care? 5. Are certain branches of medicine and patient groups innately or prima facie disadvantaged by a shift to EBM? In addition we consider a case study in the ethics of EBM, on a clinical trial concerning the collection of umbilical cord blood in utero and ex utero, during or after labour in childbirth.
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dickenson
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vineis
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010819:Physician's Role; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000941:ethics