Most of what we understand about the safety and harms of different medicines emerges from published drug trials in the peer-reviewed literature, which is often unduly influenced by industry funding, selective reporting, and a lack of data transparency. Maryanne Demasi, Ph.D., discusses how the Statin Wars demonstrate the scope and stakes of this problem.

"Broome [Spartanburg, SC] coach Steve Carruth doesn’t want to contemplate next year and being without senior Donovan Murray, his team captain. ‘I don’t even want to think about a room without Donovan in it,’ said Carruth, who is in his 23rd season at the school. ‘He leads our conditioning, because he is a CrossFit champion ... we’d be ordering rings if I had a team full of guys with his attitude and work ethic.’"