RT Journal
A1 Adibe OO, St Peter SD
T1 EQuipoise, ethics, and the necessity of randomized trials in surgery
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2012
FD October 1
VO 147
IS 10
SP 899
OP 900
DO 10.1001/archsurg.2012.1796
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2012.1796
AB 
Evidence-based medicine is defined as the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.1 Stated another way, it means treating patients based on application of evidence rather than the surgeon's thoughts or beliefs. However, prior to application of evidence toward the goal of optimal patient care, the evidence must exist. The treating physicians are therefore responsible for conducting the research that will allow for evidence on which better care may be based. Patient care will otherwise be limited by the lack of comparative data. This is especially true in the field of surgery, where: