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Meta-Research Debunks Medical Study Findings

jenningsthecat writes "From The Atlantic comes the story of John Ioannidis and his team of meta-researchers, who have studied the overall state of medical research and found it dangerously and widely lacking in trustworthiness. Even after filtering out the journalistic frippery and hyperbole, the story is pretty disturbing. Some points made in the article: even the most respected, widely accepted, peer-reviewed medical studies are all-too-often deeply flawed or outright wrong; when an error is brought to light and the conclusions publicly refuted, the erroneous conclusions often persist and are cited as valid for years, or even decades; scientists and researchers themselves regard peer review as providing 'only a minimal assurance of quality'; and these shortcomings apply to medical research across the board, not just to blatantly self-serving pharmaceutical industry studies. The article concludes by saying, 'Science is a noble endeavor, but it's also a low-yield endeavor ... I'm not sure that more than a very small percentage of medical research is ever likely to lead to major improvements in clinical outcomes and quality of life.' I've always been somewhat suspicious of research findings, but before this article I had no idea just how prevalent untrustworthy results were."

7 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Reality check by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    In further news, Meta-Meta-Research Debunks Meta-Research Study Findings...

  2. Study shows by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... that most people will believe anything, as long as it starts with 'study shows'.

  3. Re:Reality check by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Over time I became immune to placebos, I now take Extra-Strength Placebos (liqui-gels). Twice the inert ingredients!

  4. Re:We've known this for years by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd replace item C with regular fucking. Don't see the quacks, just fuck someone. Chiropractors are worthless and evil. Fucking is fucking AWESOME!

    --
    Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
  5. Re:Reality check by TubeSteak · · Score: 3, Funny

    Over time I became immune to placebos, I now take Extra-Strength Placebos (liqui-gels). Twice the inert ingredients!

    I only use homeopathic remedies.
    Now with 1000x less inert ingredients!

    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
  6. Re:We've known this for years by turing_m · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ask any Chiropractor, Naturopath or Homoeopath and they will all tell you the same thing: MODERN MEDICINE IS POISON

    I'm a firm believer in Homoeopathy. I don't believe in all of it though, just a homoeopathic proportion of its principles.

    --
    If I have seen further it is by stealing the Intellectual Property of giants.
  7. Re:Reality check by robot_love · · Score: 2, Funny

    Idiot. Everyone knows that homeopathic placebos don't work as well as real placebos. They dilute them so much, there's no placebo left in them!

    --
    .there is enough of everything for everyone.