endocrine or the nervous systems. Nevertheless, their
applies biomedical sciences, biomedical research, genetics
empirical observations greatly improved medical practice
and medical technology to diagnose, treat, and prevent
and through their writings were able to profoundly
injury and disease, typically through pharmaceuticals or
codify treatments. Their approach lasted until the next
surgery. Scientific medicine, also (somewhat erroneously)
development, scientific medicine.
called evidence-based medicine (EBM), is highly developed
Limits to empiricism
in the Western world due to its reliance on the scientific
method.
Like all systems of knowledge, empirical medicine has
The scientific method is an ongoing process, which
limitations. So, for example, medical observations are
usually begins with observations about the natural world
only guided by the skill of the individual practitioner –
and is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena,
there is no external monitoring of process. Everything is
acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating
dependant on 'expert opinion' and there are no objective
previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method
processes to test the assumption or claims made by these
of inquiry is commonly based on empirical or measurable
experts. There was also no formal pharmacology.
evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. The
Scientific Medicine
Oxford English Dictionary defines the scientific method
as 'a method or procedure that has characterised natural
The terms scientific medicine, allopathic medicine,
science since the 17th century, consisting of systematic
biomedicine, conventional medicine, orthodox medicine,
observation, measurement, and experiment, and the
and Western medicine all refer to what in English
formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses'.
is usually simply called medicine. Scientific medicine
A hypothesis is a conjecture, based on knowledge
developed from but goes beyond empiricism. One of the
obtained while formulating the question. The hypothesis
breakthroughs was the germ theory, which was proposed
might be very specific or it might be broad. Scientists
in the mid-16th century and gained widespread credence
then test hypotheses by conducting experiments. The
when substantiated by scientific discoveries of the
overall process of the scientific method involves making
17th through the late 19th century. It supplanted earlier
conjectures (hypotheses), deriving predictions from
explanations for disease, such as Galen's humeral theory
them as logical consequences, and then carrying out
or the TCM theory of qi/chi. Contemporary medicine
experiments based on those predictions. The scientific
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