Can Studies Performed at Medical Schools be Trusted?

We may think that studies performed at medical schools must be accurate, or at least impartial, but this may not be the case according to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The article explains that The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) issues guidelines for the design of medical studies. These guidelines should assure impartiality and accuracy of medical studies and allow access to the data on which they are based. However, most medical schools routinely engage in industry-sponsored research that does not comply with ICMJE guidelines and may therefore contain hidden biases. The article appeared in the October 24, 2002 edition of the Journal (volume 347:1335-1341).

Along these same lines, a book recently recommended by Dr. Joseph Mercola, DO (see his website at www.mercola.com) is entitled “Trust Us, We’re Experts: How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles With Your Future.”