Clinical research should contribute to a generalizable body of evidence that can guide decisions about clinical practice, personal health, and health policies. Recently, however, the integrity of the results disseminated in the biomedical literature has been questioned. Critics point to selective omission of important findings from articles and fundamental inaccuracies in those that are published. Particular scrutiny has been applied to financial conflicts of interest associated with industry-funded research. Such concerns are legitimate; however, a narrow focus on funding sources may not illuminate the most relevant issues. For all research, the cardinal principle should be “trust but verify.”
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