Tue 16 Dec 2008
What is the medical definition of success?
Posted by echan76 under Medicine
max g asked:
Specifically, how would the medical community evaluate a new medical procedure so as to label it a success? I’m hoping for a somewhat broad answer, backed by legitimate citations. I’m guessing that a new procedure is labeled a success when it achieves its intended purpose; what I’m looking for is if the medical community has stated if success, generally, means that a procedure causes more help than harm to the condition of the patient.
Specifically, how would the medical community evaluate a new medical procedure so as to label it a success? I’m hoping for a somewhat broad answer, backed by legitimate citations. I’m guessing that a new procedure is labeled a success when it achieves its intended purpose; what I’m looking for is if the medical community has stated if success, generally, means that a procedure causes more help than harm to the condition of the patient.
We always the benefits against ‘no intereference’ and see whether the procedure / drug despite side effects, etc. really benefits the patient. Then you say it is a success. A key question would be whether you are able to improve the quality of life? In some ‘hopeless’ cancers, prolonging life alone may not be a success, but if the patient is able to spend some more ‘quality’ time with his family, spouse, loved one, etc. then that is a success. But I suppose each case has to be weighed by its own merit.
In this context, we’re talking about a new drug or a new surgical technique which is safer or better than the last. For example, consider the issue of endovascular treatment of carotid stenosis as compared to the traditional surgical treatment carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Simply google the two and look for scientific literature comparing the success rate (these things are often measured by morbidity/mortality statistics).
Also, look in the New England Journal of Medicine and find a review article (it dates back ca. 2001) which compares angioplasty vs. stenting for renal artery stenosis and discusses which has better long term results and is the method of choice.