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Another stark reminder of the need for transparency and independence in scientific research. I, however, don't have an easy solution.
by teamspirit 2y ago
Another stark reminder of the need for transparency and independence in scientific research. I, however, don't have an easy solution.
- GuB-42 2y agoIt shouldn't be that much of a problem. Of course, Philip Morris will fund research that support their way, but if the science is good, it is worth taking. That research should be scrutinized for its quality: trustworthy data, good methodology, etc... more than who payed for it. Being transparent about potential conflicts of interest is a good thing, as it can help identifying biases, but I'd say it comes after good methodology and reproducibility. A study that says smoking is bad with errors all over the place doesn't advance science. A well made and reproducible study that says some particular aspect of smoking is not as bad as we thought it was does advance science. Other things being equal, independent research is better, but it doesn't mean sponsored research should be thrown away.