In this talk, Professor Peter Gøtzsche will discuss his personal experiences with, and research on, how conflicts of interest affect the results from medical studies. His experiences in this area started when he worked in the drug industry, and they continued after he left the industry to become one of its most vociferous critics. He has published numerous papers and books showing that drugs are much more harmful and much less effective than doctors are aware, which explains why they are the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and cancer.

This evening lecture is given in conjunction with the History and Philosophy of Evidence-Based Healthcare accredited short course, part of the Evidence-Based Healthcare programme at the University of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education.