Roberta Ness

It is important to distinguish between “bad” and “wrong.” In the 2 X 2 table of good/bad versus right/wrong, all four cells are filled, and failure to distinguish among them inappropriately condemns the field. “Good and right” is devoutly to be wished. “Bad and wrong” is anathema. The discordant pairs are a problem. “Bad and right” can happen; what? 5% of the time? But the real problem is “good and wrong.” In fact, the HRT controversy is an example of how, in the progress of epidemiologic science, many may have gotten it wrong.