[Correspondence] A case for retraction?

In the Editorial in the September issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the editors ask whether the ultimate aim of a call for retraction is “to correct the record” or “to ensure the record does not challenge cherished preconceptions”.1 In the case of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases' (AASLD) critique2 of a recent Cochrane review,3 their aim was clear—to correct the record. Why then, given the subsequent outcry from professional bodies4 and patient organisations5 worldwide, is there any need for further debate on the matter?
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research