NATURE PODCAST
25 August 2023

Audio long read: Medicine is plagued by untrustworthy clinical trials. How many studies are faked or flawed?

Teams of scientists, physicians and data sleuths argue that in some fields unreliable or fabricated trials are widespread.

Richard Van Noorden⁰ &
Benjamin Thompson

Richard Van Noorden
1. Richard Van Noorden is a features editor at Nature in London.
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Benjamin Thompson

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Investigations suggest that, in some fields, at least one-quarter of clinical trials might be problematic or even entirely made up. Faked or unreliable trials are dangerous, as they could end up being included in the reviews that help inform clinical treatments. However, the extent of the problem in unclear, and many researchers urge stronger scrutiny.

This is an audio version of our Feature: Medicine is plagued by untrustworthy clinical trials. How many studies are faked or flawed?

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02627-0

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Audio long read: Medicine is plagued by untrustworthy clinical trials. How many studies are faked or flawed?

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Director of the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute of Palacký University Olomouc

Course lecturer for INFH 5000

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ECUST Seeking Global Talents

Position Recruitment of Guangzhou Medical University

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Director of the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute of Palacký University Olomouc

Course lecturer for INFH 5000

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