Online betting in the United States, particularly through ‘prediction markets,’ has seen a significant increase over the past year. In July, a major platform announced it would allow betting on the outcomes of clinical trials and regulatory decisions. These new types of bets, called event contracts, are causing concern because they could lead to increased financial pressure for unethical behavior. This development is important because it highlights potential risks in the intersection of finance and healthcare, where the integrity of medical research could be compromised by financial incentives.
QUESTION: How might the introduction of betting on clinical-trial outcomes impact the trustworthiness of medical research?
