BLOGSCAN - Evidence? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Evidence

The New York Times recently reported on the rush to use advanced CT scans for cardiologic diagnosis, in the absence of much evidence that this expensive technology works. Merrill Goozner on GoozNews, and Matthew Holt on the Health Care Blog offered some pithy comments. My jaw dropped at this quote in the Times article:

It's incumbent on the community to dispense with the need for evidence-based medicine.

As Goozner wrote, when self proclaimed experts (perhaps key opinion leaders) are convinced they are right, they don't need no stinkin' evidence.

ADDENDUM (2 July, 2008): Dr Wes also weighed in, with considerable skepticism. His post is an excellent primer about how the test is actually done, its drawbacks, and the lack of evidence supporting its use except in special circumstances.