Two articles debating equipoise (September 9, 2005)

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A frequent contributor to the IRBForum (HM) mentioned a couple of articles that discuss equipoise and which are well worth discussing in detail.

• Ethics and equipoise: rationale for a placebo-controlled study design of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition in coronary intervention. Tcheng JE, Madan M, O'Shea JC, Cohen EA, Buller CE, Lincoff AM, Popma JJ, Teirstein PS, Kitt MM, Lorenz TJ, Greenberg S, Fost N, Califf RM. J Interv Cardiol 2003: 16(2); 97-105. [Medline]
• Equipoise in the Enhanced Supression of the Platelet IIb/IIIa Receptor with Integrilin Trial (ESPRIT): a critical appraisal. Mann H, London AJ, Mann J. Clinical Trials 2005: 2; 233-243.

These articles are not available for free, but I will try to quote some relevant portions of them and comment on them when I get some free time.