Cancer researchers not sharing data?
Andrew Vickers of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has a disturbing essay in the New York Times today. Apparently researchers are relucatant to share their cancer study data. Because of concerns that their studies might be criticized, because it is proprietary business data, and out of concerns for patient privacy. Vickers is a statistician and has encountered personal rejection when asking for information, and he knows enough about the industry to say this is a common practice.
It’s unfortunate that such attitudes exist in the scientific community, especially in the Internet age when communication is easier than ever. For the good of millions of patients, I hope scientists do not horde their data, but instead share it.
