Resumen

MILLAN-GONZALEZ, Ricardo. Evidence-Based Medicine and Public Health Policies, the case of the new Traffic Law. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2011, vol.53, n.3, pp.149-150. ISSN 0001-6002.

Evidence Based Medicine is a methodological approach that allows us to discriminate worldwide available information with the intention to clarify clinical questions and thus make the best decisions for a given population. One area where there is adequate scientific support is the one that links the consumption of alcohol and driving with a series of epidemiological variables, with a significant increased risk of accidents and with the fact that preventive measures are able to reduce the mortality rate. Therefore the current Traffic Law is deeply questioned in two areas: the allowed levels of blood concentration of alcohol and the absence of restrictions on the age groups most prone to accidents when alcohol is ingested. It is necessary to apply these concepts in the national legislation, and for that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Costa Rica has a preponderant role.

Palabras clave : Evidence-based Medicine; Traffic Law; alcohol consumption and driving of vehicles.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )