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the Alzheimer's stuff is really bad but this happens a lot in bio/med apparently more than people think just photoshopping results there are people out there who track this stuff, impression is there's a huge scandal every couple years that takes down a superstar
in the 19C Ignaz Semmelweis proposed handwashing before delivery to prevent then-common natal infections. other doctors objected to the implication that a gentleman's hands might be dirty. Semmelweis was involuntarily committed and subsequently murdered https://t.co/2msb8Nh0EQ
more context on the alzheimers thing if you werent familiar i probably worked in the same building as this guy for a while, also doing useless bio research https://t.co/J5qMnTIAZy
heh ht @atticus_levi https://t.co/ipX99Xkg7P
broader critique from rev https://t.co/VaMKr52CIH
@eigenrobot How can these people sleep knowing tens of thousands of people are getting nothing better than placebo treatments based on their junk science How can you have dedicated your life to medicine and not feel absolutely demonic
@VividVoid_ @eigenrobot In both cases, I saw people *years* ago talking about how “most people in the field don’t actually believe this anymore—but no one will fund you if your proposal doesn’t have [buzzword] in it a dozen times, so… we soldier on”
@VividVoid_ @eigenrobot If I had to guess, there’s probably a dozen things like this right now in important fields, where everyone knows it’s not true, but you can’t get money or clout without it, so… onward”