Re:Medicine is plagued by untrustworthy clinical trials
by s1artibartfast on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @01:05PM
(#36775787)
Three points.
First, some laws probably don't have any positive impact.
Second, there's a difference between accurately summarizing trial results and extrapolating that to the impact of a new law. If there was a death penalty for not wearing masks, perhaps compliance would be better than in the trials and an effect would be shown. This doesn't mean that the trial analysis is wrong, you just can't draw a conclusion about the law from the trial data.
Third, laws have multiple purposes including Justice and Punishment. Some murderers might have zero chance of re-offending but we still want to punish them as a matter of Justice, not because it makes Society safer.
First, some laws probably don't have any positive impact.
Second, there's a difference between accurately summarizing trial results and extrapolating that to the impact of a new law. If there was a death penalty for not wearing masks, perhaps compliance would be better than in the trials and an effect would be shown. This doesn't mean that the trial analysis is wrong, you just can't draw a conclusion about the law from the trial data.
Third, laws have multiple purposes including Justice and Punishment. Some murderers might have zero chance of re-offending but we still want to punish them as a matter of Justice, not because it makes Society safer.