Lancet Editors Says Half of Medical Literature is BS

charlesmartel

Anarcho-Monarchist
Jun 26, 2006
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“The case against science is straightforward: much of the scientific literature, perhaps half, may simply be untrue. Afflicted by studies with small sample sizes, tiny effects, invalid exploratory analyses, and flagrant conflicts of interest, together with an obsession for pursuing fashionable trends of dubious importance, science has taken a turn towards darkness.”
-- Dr Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief, Lancet

Editor In Chief Of World’s Best Known Medical Journal: Half Of All The Literature Is False

Editors, Publishers, Impact Factors, and Reprint Income
 


yeah its ridiculous. All you need to do is look at the study data and the conclusion of the study. They don't even match. For example, a study to test whether A or B is the true - all the data gathered from the study points to A but they'll conclude B, as B usually aligns with the present dogma.
 
Studies sponsored by pharmaceutical companies were more likely to have outcomes favouring the sponsor than were studies with other sponsors (odds ratio 4.05)

Source: Pharmaceutical industry sponsorship and research outcome and quality: systematic review | The BMJ


Most people hear the word "study" and assume its findings/conclusions are unassailable. They can't distinguish between case control studies, cohort studies, controlled clinical trials and randomized controlled trials.

Hell, a lot of them consider WebMD a credible source of medical advice.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that half of medical studies are crap. As always, it comes down to incentives and disincentives. Who stands to gain from positive findings?

The funny thing is the amount of faith people have in researchers. It's as if anyone with a lab coat and clipboard is virtuous and untainted.

Sort of like prefacing a name with "Dr." suddenly makes that individual an authority.

It's a sham.
 
The funny thing is the amount of faith people have in researchers. It's as if anyone with a lab coat and clipboard is virtuous and untainted.

Sort of like prefacing a name with "Dr." suddenly makes that individual an authority.

It's a sham.

Drew-Eric-Whitman.jpg


How about you say that shit to Dr. Drew Eric Whitman's face, you pussy.
 
“The case against science is straightforward: much of the scientific literature, perhaps half, may simply be untrue. Afflicted by studies with small sample sizes, tiny effects, invalid exploratory analyses, and flagrant conflicts of interest, together with an obsession for pursuing fashionable trends of dubious importance, science has taken a turn towards darkness.”

Great scientific process there.

Are life expectancies going up or down? Everyone loves to jump on the scientists as pushing their own agendas while ignoring who is making those claims. Where do these contrarians go when they get crook?
 
I am not surprised, for that is why they call them "Practicing Physicians". Unfortunately the patient is the guinea pig. Medical doctors are pimps of the worst kind, but I put the ultimate blame on the clueless patients with a glutinous lifestyle.

Most people ignore that fact that you become what you eat and drink on a daily basis.
 
Medical doctors are pimps of the worst kind.

Such a broad and retarded statement. Seriously how dumb are you? You're going to be eating those words if you have a serious medical emergency that can only be treated by a competent doctor.

I would be blind right now if it weren't for the steady hand of an ophthalmologist. You think an overconfident retard such as yourself would be able to pull that off with no medical training aside from your dumbass opinion?

No shit that half of the medical studies are pseudo science. That's what happens when profit driven industries such as the pharmacetical industry gets involved and wants to game the results to their liking in order to influence government agencies such as the FDA. You'll notice that university funded studies tend to be much better at following the scientific method. Also with any scientific study it's all about peer review and repeatability of the results by multiple studies doing the same experiment.

Some of you people are serious fucking idiots. Do you guys fall for your own landing pages?
 
Great scientific process there.

Are life expectancies going up or down? Everyone loves to jump on the scientists as pushing their own agendas while ignoring who is making those claims. Where do these contrarians go when they get crook?

"Science is evil! Scientists are owned by big corporations! 50% of science isn't even good science according to scientists!"

*Cites article on random Wordpress blog as conclusive proof*
 
Not sure if it's 50% but a lot of science is just unverified as I pointed out in another thread. A "peer reviewed" paper doesn't mean shit. It doesn't mean the observations have been replicated.

Either way, despite how stupid science's practitioners can be, it's still the best thing we have to find out things about our world. The great thing about science is eventually it works itself out because people will try to replicate important studies and the bullshit comes out. There's resistance but nothing like religious or political resistance.
 
Fun fact is that something considered a dogm might soon be considered bullshit, and vice versa.

Crest toothpaste was market leader for decades, because doctors told people that high fluor content is great for their teath. Some researches stated the opposite, but marketing machine was too strong to suppress the voice of doubting.

Nowadays, when multiple studies showed that fluor is not so great for our teeth, Crest has lost a huge chunk of market and a ton of fluor-free pastes are available. I use one of these and I really forgot when I last visited the dentist (aside from semi-annual regular visits, of course)

The same goes about most of medical researches and science - the company who pays the most is considered the best. The point that independent studies often show differing results is mostly correct (though the degree of independence is questionable, as they have to buy their equipment, so they need funds...)

Generally speaking, what is considered good today may be called a threat tomorrow and we cannot do anything about it. The only way is to get as much points of view as possible before taking a decision.

It's not about surgery, of course - when you need your appendix removed, you don't go to a herbalist, this is done with a surgery. So the choice is up to you, as always.
 
That's right

Well, this is the first thing I've ever put up on Wicked Fire. Been a member for a couple of years, but I'll be getting time to do some posting now. To reply to your post; my wife is a physician and she's had me on this thing of writing a book about exactly that subject. Especially where Cancer is concerned - but it's not limited to that.

She can't say anything publicly, so she's goaded me into saying things for her and since I like peace and tranquility in the house, I've done it. Now I'm figuring on what to do about publishing it.

Maybe I'll do some more posting on this in my own venue later, but this is just to confirm that you're right on.:)