An Optimistic View of the National Cooperative Gallstone Study

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Abstract
There is frequently a cyclical pattern to the reception given to new drugs: At first, exciting preliminary observations lead to exaggerated claims of efficacy and safety. Secondly, controlled trials find the therapy either to be less effective than initially claimed or to have unexpected side effects. Thirdly, widespread disillusionment leads to a considerable decrease in use of the drug. In time, a better perspective emerges, with appropriate balancing of the risks and benefits as they apply to the individual patient, and leads to renewed use of the therapy. Furthermore, information acquired on the interrelation between structure, function, and toxicity accelerates . . .