Be skeptical of miraculous study results

[David Baxter PhD]

CJR: Be skeptical of miraculous study results
by Andrew Van Dam, Health Journalism
Apr. 15th, 2009

In the Columbia Journalism Review, Katherine Bagley urges journalists to use caution when reporting the results of medical studies, citing reports on a recent study on the effectiveness of using stem cells to halt or even reverse multiple sclerosis as an example.

Done with caution and a critical eye, coverage of limited but promising research can provide a needed dose of optimism for people with MS and their families. Unfortunately, in this case, that journalistic prudence was almost totally missing.​

Bagley said that, through over-the-top reporting and selective coverage of the small-scale control-free study had inspired false hope and misled readers.

 

[NicNak]

I heard on the news tonight about Stem Cells for Diabetes too. That they would remove the faulty cells and replace them with new cells, in hopes they the new cells would work and produce insulin properly. Through Stem Cell research.

I agree people should be skeptical. False hope is a horrible thing. Until it is brought to fruition I always keep it in perspective. Many of these advances are many, many years away. It is important people keep that in mind when reading these things.

Thanks for posting this Dr Baxter.

 

[HBas]

I agree!

My sister had a kidney and pancreas transplant a month ago ... she was sick for 10 years and False hope - we know about that!

Thanks Dr. Baxter

HB