On 23/10/2010 22:00, Wjhonson wrote:
But it does have authoritative perspective. That is exactly my point and the point at which you railed at, from a position that was extreme. Your contention is that we should not report *any* thing in our work on a drug except what the manufacturer puts on the label.
If at any moment it can be stood on its head then the information contained in the articles can never be authoritative. Suppose I have a calculator that every once in a while, and quite randomly, adds up two numbers wrongly, such a calculator wouldn't be authoritative in its results, even when it added the numbers correctly.
For some things, like who played who in 'West Wing', it is of little importance. For medical issues the accuracy is highly important, and if one can't guarantee that each page load contains the accurate information then one shouldn't be pretending that it is in any way authoritative.
Our general disclaimer should disabuse anyone who reads it of that idea.
We do encourage editor to improve our articles, and, as a whole, they are getting better.
Fred