A Case Study In Faulty Woke Studies

The National Library of Medicine records over 2,700 published studies on “racism and medicine.” As our Chairman, Dr. Stan Goldfarb, has pointed out in the Wall Street Journal, these studies tend to be “shoddily designed, ignore critical factors, or reach pre-determined and sensationalized conclusions.” Real Clear Investigations recently asked Dr. Goldfarb to review one study in particular – and that criticism rings true.

The study comes from a recent edition of the prominent medical journal Health Affairs, which devoted its February issue to medicine and race, generally from the perspective of Critical Race Theory. Authored by researchers from Duke University and Florida State University, the study claims to show that “that racialized disenfranchisement” – as in, blocking felons from voting – “affects health.” 

The authors admit they can’t prove this claim, yet they make the case for it anyway, on the grounds that there is a “theoretical basis.” Dr. Goldberg skewers this lazy approach to scholarly research:

“This approach just drives me crazy. It’s basically finding associations and claiming it proves causality. They are going to find evidence for their theory because they are trying to do everything they can to prove their theory.”

Sadly, such substandard and unscientific studies are increasingly par for the course across America’s most respected medical journals. Let’s be clear: This isn’t medical research, it’s anti-racist propaganda. And while it claims to move healthcare forward, it will only hold back medical progress and patient health.