[Current evidence-based medicine debate in Germany: focal points, scotoma and diverging values]

In Germany evidence-based medicine has gained momentum not before the mid-1990ies. In particular, it started its career in the form of evidence-based health care. Within a few years (1999) the term even became part of Germany's social law. In contrast, clinicians and representatives of medical organisations are still sceptical and reluctant to adopt its concept, methods, and techniques. In part, their critical attitudes have been focusing on the perceived "deprofessionalisation" of the medical profession. Based on sociological and historical arguments and in view of the recently published "Charter on Medical Professionalism", the present paper reports and analyses this criticism. EbM, as an instrument of intraprofessional regulation, will most probably contribute to strengthening the autonomy of the medical profession; this, however, does not preclude the possibility that EbM may restrict the professional autonomy of individual physicians.