Studies should be read with care

Dr. Valerie Ulene’s article [“It’s Enough to Make Your Head Spin,” March 6] about the poor quality of medical research reporting was very appropriate. Many research papers, especially about nutrition and health, are poorly designed and limited in scope. A large newspaper would do well to hire a journalist with a doctorate in science who is able to write cogent, critical reports of new health and science research. Most research should be studied as much for what it doesn’t say as for what it does, and that understanding should be conveyed to the reader.

DR. DENNIS SCHUMACHER

Big Pine, Calif.