Reference no: EM131089401

Which drug would you rather take: One that reduces your risk of cancer by 50 percent, or another drug that only eliminates cancer in one out of 100 people? Most people would choose the drug that reduces their risk of cancer by 50 percent, but the fact is, both of these numbers refer to the same drug. They're just two different ways of looking at the same statistic. One way is called relative risk; the other way is absolute risk.

Here's how it works: Let's say there is a trial involving 100 people. Two people would normally get breast cancer during the trial duration, but when all 100 people are put on the drug, only one person gets breast cancer. This means the reduction of breast cancer is one person out of 100. Yet, the pharmaceutical industry will exclaim that the relative risk reduction is 50 percent because one is 50 percent of two. In other words, the risk is cut in half from a relative point of view.

Therefore, the headlines promoting this drug will always talk about the relative risk -- "A whopping 50 percent reduction in risk!" -- and these headlines will be parroted by the mainstream press, medical journals, the FDA, doctors and drug marketing reps who are always pushing and exaggerating the supposed benefits of their drugs while minimizing their risks.

You see, even though this drug may help one out of 100 people, its side effects create increased risks to all 100 people. Everyone suffers some harm from the potential side effects of the drug, even if that harm is not immediately evident. However, only one out of 100 people was actually helped by the drug.

When you look at drug claims, especially new miracle-sounding claims on drugs, be aware that these statistics are routinely given as relative statistics, not absolute. The numbers are distorted to make the drugs look more effective than they really are.

In your post:

1. Cite and discuss another questionable pharmaceutical, medical or public health claim you believe is questionable or one that was later found to be based on incorrect statistics, research design etc.

2. Discuss the specific problems with the claim and how they could have been avoided.

3. Cite at least one scripture passage that pertains to this topic.