BMJ 2003;327:1442-1445 (20 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7429.1442
HARLOT plc: An amalgamation of the world's two oldest professions
David L Sackett, director1, Andrew D Oxman, director2 on behalf of HARLOT plc 1 Trout Research and
Education Center, Markdale, ON, Canada N0C 1H0, 2 Department of Health Services Research, Norwegian
Directorate for Health and Social Welfare, Oslo 0031, Norway Correspondence to: D L Sackett
[email hidden]
"Once a suitable number of patients taking your drug seem to be heading for trouble, we will move
the study clinic to a new, secret (to them) location and, when they miss their next appointment,
censor them from all subsequent analyses"
Tired of being good but poor, the authors have amalgamated the world's two oldest professions in a
new niche company, HARLOT plc, specialising in How to Achieve positive Results without actually
Lying to Overcome the Truth
We've been good. DLS has prohibited sponsors' stockholders, much less employees, from seats on his
data safety and monitoring boards and has enforced the banning of pharmaceutical reps from the
medical wards at McMaster University. ADO has exposed problems with experts and has promulgated
rigorous reviews of research to inform decisions about health care. In sum, we have established
impeccable reputations for protecting the validity of randomised trials and systematic reviews, and
for exposing lapses in methods, validity, therapeutic claims, and professional conduct.
We've also been poor. DLS drives a clapped out pick-up truck, and his rowing boat leaks. ADO wears
worn out blue jeans and hasn't had a new pair of shoes for 10 years.
It has finally dawned on us that being good and being poor are causally related: being good doesn't
pay. Accordingly, we have decided that it's time for us to find out whether being bad pays better.
We're combining the world's oldest and second oldest professions, cashing in on our reputations, and
distributing this confidential prospectus for our new company, HARLOT plc.
more at the above url
MFG