Science-based medicine vs evidence-based medicine

Member Steve Wolff has suggested we discuss science-based vs evidence-based medicine.
On the website ‘Science-Based Medicine’, David Gorski claims the US Department of Health and Humans Services’ Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is weaponizing evidence-based medicine to falsely portray vaccines as unsafe (see ‘HHS is weaponizing evidence-based medicine to falsely portray vaccines as unsafe’, 5 May 2025). Evidence-based medicine (EBM) emphasises evidence and considers the random controlled trail (RCT) the gold standard when deciding whether a medical treatment is effective. On the other hand, science-based medicine (SBM) gives weight to our scientific knowledge as well as the evidence when deciding whether a medical treatment is effective. But how is evidence-based medicine being weaponised against vaccinations?

We will also be having a look at a recent experiment by member Neil to see if our phones really ARE listening to us all the time and then feeding us ads for stuff we talk about. Plus a bit of fun with a couple of skeptical apps that Neil recently created.

We’ll be upstairs in the ‘Boardroom’ (smaller room on near side of upstairs bar) at historic Kalamunda Hotel. Go up the stairs and turn right, then turn right again. Or ask a staff member. Arrive a little early to order food & drink downstairs.
As usual, I appreciate a small donation (cash) towards the cost of the Meetup platform.
The room at the hotel is costing us nothing – and the food is generally good. Plenty of free parking, on street and in adjacent shopping centre.