Reports of Medical Breakthroughs Often Don't Prove Out

Reports of Medical Breakthroughs Often Don't Prove Out
AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere

Medical breakthroughs that were covered by newspapers were often later disproved by more comprehensive research, a study finds. That's a problem for scientists and journalists.

When you pick up a newspaper and read a story about the latest results on breast cancer, autism, depression or other ailments, what are the odds that finding will stand the test of time?

The answer, according to a study in the journal PLOS One is: flip a coin.



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