A new review article examines the pivotal role statistics plays in upholding research integrity and patient safety. It scrutinizes common statistical errors in medical studies, like p-hacking and neglecting limitations. Using historical examples, it demonstrates how such errors have resulted in flawed conclusions causing public harm, including with hormone therapy research. Recommendations encompass more statistical rigor by ethical review boards assessing proposals, requiring open access data to enable peer review and mandating an ethical discussion. Overall, properly applying statistical principles is an ethical obligation, ensuring findings are valid, generalizable and reproducible.
Citation: Heston TF. Statistical Ethics in Medical Research: A Narrative Review. Jour Clin Med Res. 2023;4(3):1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JCMR.2023.4308