Readers as research detectives.
Flaws in research papers are common but it may require arduous detective work to unravel them. Checklists are helpful, but many inconsistencies will only be revealed through repeated cross-checks of every little detail, just like in a crime case. As a major deterrent for dishonesty, raw data from all trials should be posted on a public website. This would also make it much easier to detect errors and flaws in publications, and it would allow many research projects to be performed without collecting new data. The prevailing culture of secrecy and ownership to data is not in the best interests of patients.
Gøtzsche
Peter C
PC
The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Rigshospitalet, Dept 3343, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. pcg@cochrane.dk
D022126:Access to Information; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards*; D003219:Confidentiality; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D017594:Publication Bias; D011786:Quality Control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D015871:Scientific Misconduct; D016896:Treatment Outcome