Healthy Skepticism Library item: 471

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Letter to the Editor
Washington Post 2004 Jun 30

Full text:

To the Editor:

Today’s (6/30/04) editorial, “Missing Drug Data,” misses the point and
argues with the pharmaceutical industry and its allies in the Congress, the
NIH and the FDA that data can be selectively reported to satisfy commercial
interests. This is a blatant attack on Karl Popper’s falsifiability
principle on which empirical science depends to make progress. One needs all
the data in order to verify the results of clinical or any other kind of
research. Most academics and pundits know that any case can be made if
allowed to manipulate the data and assumptions. The AMA, the medical journal
editors, and Eliot Spitzer, all deserve applause from the Washington Post
editor-not quibbling about the possible damage that somehow, somewhere might
result from strict embrace of the principles and practice of scientific
inquiry. It’s all about transparency.

John H. Noble, Jr.
Endowed Professor for Social Justice
National Catholic School of Social Service
The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC 20064