If there is not a clear case for the belief, and I do mean noncontroversial type clear, it is wrong. There is indeed "a clear case" for belief in evolution. In fact, the case is so clear that I would not want to put my life into the hands of someone who knew the case but rejected it, because there's no telling what other well-founded knowledge they might reject out of hand because it doesn't fit their preferred beliefs, or what practices they might follow as a result of it (e.g., Christian Scientists who reject the process of life-saving blood transfusions).
I would no more want a physician who rejected evolution for fundamentalist grounds than a physician who rejected other parts of modern medicine out of a belief that acupuncture and its effects on the "chi" flow of the body was the "real" root cause of health and disease.
Many competant physicians are not evolutionists.
I require more than mere "competence", thank you very much.
And frankly, from the anti-evolutionists I've met through the years and had long discussions with, I can't say that I have much confidence that most of them could even rise to the level of "competent" when it comes to complex technical issues. I sure as hell wouldn't want any of them doing surgery on me.
Okay, you ask your physician if he believes in the Fact of Evolution. I'll find out if mine if board certified. Wanna trade now?
"What clinical medical practice or technique requires a belief in evolution?" Required belief is the key.
All other things equal...
If my surgeon does not believe in evolution, but is a little faster in controlling internal bleeding...Guess who I might be inclined to pick?
If my diagnostician does not believe in evolution, but is better at asking the probing questions necessary in diagnosis...Guess who I might be inclined to pick?
If my pharmacist does not believe in evolution, but is better at correlating drug interactions...Guess who I might be inclined to pick?
I haven't got a dog in the creationist fight. I don't care if it is Kali and Shiva and we're supposed to be waiting for Vishnu. I've had a good Hindu doctor too (orthopedic surgeons require belief in evolution to reform cartilege because...?).
"What clinical medical practice or technique requires a belief in evolution?" Required belief is the key.
I've asked this time and again. It cuts to the heart of the issue. If you cannot give a clinical example, your choice for a physician is not being done logically, and I find that terribly funny.
DK
I did like your comment about requiring more than competence. I'm sure that majority of people here would love to think they are being treated by the best in the profession. I would. Unless you and I suddenly get put into the sphere of world or national importance, in most cases competent is the level where we live. Unfortunately the incompetent are usually documented one level below us, where people cannot be more choosy and snooty about their care. Maybe if we dealt more with professional competence and left the Ivory tower guys to looking at bones, some poor Christian or Hindi premed student could get along with his career without having do chose between dogmas. Religion or Evolution.