But with Parkinson's disease, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and leukemia, hype hurts people. That's why trials are done and why they are done in stages. Studies can't be rushed. Just because a drug company asks for early marketing approval doesn't mean that patients should line up at their doctor's office waiting for the new pill. Meteorologists who forecast storms that don't develop, even though the forecast is based on sound scientific data, are ridiculed.
Sports reporters keep track of others' weekly football predictions.
But medical journalists who help promote new treatments before all the evidence is in rarely get a critical wrist slap. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the terms of use . A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Walgreen Co. All rights reserved.