Monday 8 September 2014

Clinical Practice Guidelines of dubious ethical values feed malpractices









Shannon Brownlee is the author of "Overtreated. Why too much medicine is making us sicker and poorer." This book is the most significant piece of literature in the academic and social movement that empowers valuable clinical practice. The tweet chosen this week refers to "The Right Care Blog". It is an institutional blog of the "Lown Institute" where Mrs. Brownlee is vice president.

Upon entering the blog, you will see that the recommended post is "Conflicted guidelines breed conflicted practice", a text that comments on an article by Jeanne Lenzer in the BMJ, where it is argued that the connivance between the promoters of clinical practice guidelines and the industry are feeding inadequate practices. And to illustrate it, the author selects two examples that have experienced these problems with negative health outcomes of affected patients. One example is TPA, a clot solvent, and the other a recommendation of high dose of corticosteroids for the treatment of spinal cord injuries.

Now that there are many people and many institutions involved in making possible the practice of evidence should reach all corners of the system, it is relevant that there aren’t any ethical questions about the scientific basis of clinical practice.


Jordi Varela

Editor

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