Logos , ethos , pathos : evidence-based medicine through the lens of rhetoric

evidence-based medicine through the lens of rhetoricOver the last three decades, evidencebased medicine (EBM) has become a central paradigm in modern Western medicine.By integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient values, it provides a widely accepted framework for clinical decision making.Yet, while EBM identifies the key elements that should inform decisions, it says relatively little about how these elements are brought together in everyday consultations.How is scientific evidence interpreted through clinical experience?How are patient values incorporated into recommendations?And how are these judgements communicated in situations of uncertainty?I would like to propose that Aristotle's theory of rhetoric may offer a useful framework for understanding how evidence, expertise, and patient values are brought together in clinical practice.Drawing on the classical concepts of logos, ethos, and pathos, striking parallels emerge with the three pillars of EBM.More importantly, this rhetorical framework may help explain how evidence, expertise, and patient values are interpreted, integrated, and translated into shared decision making.