Evidence-based veterinary medicine at 20 – a commentary on historical, philosophical, practical and ethical aspects

Evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) has pervaded the veterinary profession in the last two decades including academic and regulatory arenas as well as practising veterinary surgeons. EBVM grew from its older human sister, evidence-based medicine (EBM) and in doing so shares EBM’s central tenet...

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Main Authors: David Mills, Michael Reiss, Madeleine Campbell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: RCVS Knowledge 2025-07-01
Series:Veterinary Evidence
Subjects:
Online Access:https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/710
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author David Mills
Michael Reiss
Madeleine Campbell
author_facet David Mills
Michael Reiss
Madeleine Campbell
author_sort David Mills
collection DOAJ
description Evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) has pervaded the veterinary profession in the last two decades including academic and regulatory arenas as well as practising veterinary surgeons. EBVM grew from its older human sister, evidence-based medicine (EBM) and in doing so shares EBM’s central tenets of how best to do medicine. However, EBM has by no means been universally accepted; it has attracted fierce criticism and undergone several revisions since inception. In this article, we trace history of both movements and critically examine the philosophical basis of EBM/EBVM being better. We also assess the practicality of EBVM and examine ethical aspects of its use. With knowledge of EBM’s evolution, possible ways forward for EBVM are suggested that attempt to avoid EBM’s historical setbacks and improve individual veterinary patient care under EBVM.
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spelling doaj-art-ad51c091866a42e8a93ff0839ad5e6d92025-08-20T03:28:06ZengRCVS KnowledgeVeterinary Evidence2396-97762025-07-0110310.18849/ve.v10i3.710563Evidence-based veterinary medicine at 20 – a commentary on historical, philosophical, practical and ethical aspectsDavid Mills0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3483-9799Michael Reisshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1207-4229Madeleine CampbellThe Royal Veterinary CollegeEvidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) has pervaded the veterinary profession in the last two decades including academic and regulatory arenas as well as practising veterinary surgeons. EBVM grew from its older human sister, evidence-based medicine (EBM) and in doing so shares EBM’s central tenets of how best to do medicine. However, EBM has by no means been universally accepted; it has attracted fierce criticism and undergone several revisions since inception. In this article, we trace history of both movements and critically examine the philosophical basis of EBM/EBVM being better. We also assess the practicality of EBVM and examine ethical aspects of its use. With knowledge of EBM’s evolution, possible ways forward for EBVM are suggested that attempt to avoid EBM’s historical setbacks and improve individual veterinary patient care under EBVM.https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/710epistemologyethicsevidence-based veterinary medicineevolutionfuturehistory
spellingShingle David Mills
Michael Reiss
Madeleine Campbell
Evidence-based veterinary medicine at 20 – a commentary on historical, philosophical, practical and ethical aspects
Veterinary Evidence
epistemology
ethics
evidence-based veterinary medicine
evolution
future
history
title Evidence-based veterinary medicine at 20 – a commentary on historical, philosophical, practical and ethical aspects
title_full Evidence-based veterinary medicine at 20 – a commentary on historical, philosophical, practical and ethical aspects
title_fullStr Evidence-based veterinary medicine at 20 – a commentary on historical, philosophical, practical and ethical aspects
title_full_unstemmed Evidence-based veterinary medicine at 20 – a commentary on historical, philosophical, practical and ethical aspects
title_short Evidence-based veterinary medicine at 20 – a commentary on historical, philosophical, practical and ethical aspects
title_sort evidence based veterinary medicine at 20 a commentary on historical philosophical practical and ethical aspects
topic epistemology
ethics
evidence-based veterinary medicine
evolution
future
history
url https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/710
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AT madeleinecampbell evidencebasedveterinarymedicineat20acommentaryonhistoricalphilosophicalpracticalandethicalaspects