The relationship between hypothesis testing and ethics in clinical trials

Each of these is now expressed in a more precise manner. In addition, the null hypothesis now allows for the treatment groups to differ to a certain extent. In any trial involving any treatments, the group averages will almost certainly differ to some extent The probability of a treatment effect of zero is extremely small. 

The statistical convention of using the expression failing to reject the null hypothesis reflects the position that null hypotheses of no difference can always be rejected if enough 

16 The relationship between hypothesis testing and ethics in clinical trials 

The philosophy that makes it acceptable that some individuals receive a placebo in a clinical trial is that a comparative clinical trial in which some receive a placebo while others receive the investigational drug is the best way to find out if that drug is indeed effective. If it is, the individuals who received the placebo would not themselves have benefited on this occasion, but their participation in the trial was a crucial component contributing to the later treatment of patients with the approved drug. As noted earlier individuals take part in clinical trials for the greater good, not for their own immediate benefit. 

Uncertainty is therefore a fundamental prerequisite to conducting a therapeutic exploratory or 

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