Editorial: Reporting of Scientific Studies: Misleading Titles

Abstract

A recent article in a respected British newspaper led with the headline ‘Atheist doctors more likely to hasten death’ which ruffled my feathers in exasperation. The phrase ‘to hasten death’ seems almost synonymous with euthanasia, which are acts that are distinct from end-of-life care. What were the background justification and the findings from the original study? They are well worth reading in full (Seale, 2010)