Forensic audits for clinical trials

Clinical‑trial literature may contain a non‑trivial share of fabricated or irreproducible trials, so routine forensic audits (random raw‑data checks, statistical integrity screening and mandatory provenance deposits) should be implemented as a condition of publication and regulatory acceptance. Such audits would combine statistical forensics with mandatory access to trial records to catch fabricated datasets and prevent sham trials from informing care. — If adopted, forensic auditing would shift where trust is placed—from reputation and peer review to verifiable data provenance—and could materially change drug approvals, clinical guidelines and patient safety.