D2 Equipoise: when medical knowledge can only advance by experimenting
Vincent J. Carey, stvjc at channing.harvard.edu
May 22, 2026
Source:vignettes/D2_equipoise.Rmd
D2_equipoise.Rmd## Warning: multiple methods tables found for 'scale'## Warning: replacing previous import 'BiocGenerics::scale' by
## 'DelayedArray::scale' when loading 'SummarizedExperiment'Equipoise: individual and clinical
Distinguished in AMA ethics, 2015
What is the state of medical knowledge? Why is this trial asking an important question? How does the likelihood of benefiting in study A compare with that of benefiting in study B or with the standard of care? – attributed to B. Freedman
Belief in the new treatment
Belief in the patient’s suitability for the new treatment
Interpretation of new evidence
Risk that new evidence will “regress”
Alternative: fully informed patient consent