The Medical Evidence Project, a venture of The Center for Scientific Integrity, aims to reduce harm to patients and improve outcomes by finding and publicizing serious errors in the medical literature. Under the directorship of James Heathers, Ph.D., the Medical Evidence Project uses forensic meta-analytical techniques to detect and then shine light on errors arising from low-quality science and fraudulent work in areas that involve large numbers of patients.
Why this, and why now?
Even as medical practitioners strive to make their practices more evidence-based, bad medical research contaminates treatment guidelines, posing potential risks for patients whose doctors are being misled. Research on scientific publishing shows paper mills and other forms of fraud are proliferating while mechanisms to detect and stop them have been slow, erratic, or nonexistent. The Medical Evidence Project combines the power of science and the power of journalism to turn the tide in favor of patients and their care providers.
What do we do at the Medical Evidence Project?
The Medical Evidence Project’s team of analysts focuses its forensic efforts on medical research publications that have a disproportionately high impact on human health. We use meta-analytic techniques, some of which we have developed, to detect published work that appears to be erroneous and possibly fabricated. For specialists who want to dig into and check our work, we produce detailed reports explaining our findings.
But we do more than that. In the spirit of The Center for Scientific Integrity’s long history of bringing transparency to bear, the Medical Evidence Project team also works closely with journalists – including our colleagues at Retraction Watch – to bring broad, high-quality reporting of the Medical Evidence Project’s findings. Doing so helps impel those in power to take informed action.
Ultimately, if we are successful, our work will lead to an improved evidence base and revision of erroneous and misleading medical guidelines, policies, and clinical practices that may unnecessarily harm patients.
Interested in supporting this project?
Donate to support the Medical Evidence Project. Sign up for Retraction Watch’s newsletter to stay abreast of what’s happening in the area of science integrity. And, if you know of significant medical guidelines, clinical policies, or meta-analyses that appear to contain serious errors or potentially fraudulent material – material deserving of forensic work by the Medical Evidence Project – contact us with your tips.
Learn more about the Medical Evidence Project here.