Evidence-Based Medicine’ and the Expulsion of Peter Gøtzsche
‘Evidence-Based Medicine’ and the Expulsion of Peter Gøtzsche The Danish physician was a celebrity in the world of statistical analysis, but some say his views simply went too far. BY DANIEL KOLITZ 12.30.2019 Source : https://undark.org/2019/12/30/peter-gotzsche-cochrane/ F OR EIGHT MONTHS in 1975, Peter Gøtzsche recalls driving around Denmark misleading doctors about a new, more expensive type of penicillin. He was 25 years old, with master’s degrees in biology and chemistry. As a pharmaceutical representative for the Sweden-based Astra Group, he was tasked with promoting Globacillin, which was said to be more effective than regular penicillin. At the time, Gøtzsche says he did not know that the claims he was making on behalf of his employer were not backed by high-quality evidence. Gøtzsche stayed in the pharmaceutical industry for another eight years, writing brochures, strategizing ad campaigns, and, eventually, presiding over clinical trials. It was here that di...