The Case Control or Retrospective Study In Retrospect

The epidemiologic case control design is described against background information on its resurgence in popularity despite historical criticisms posed by its detractors. Weaknesses charged to the design by Feinstein and others such as its potential for recall bias in the use of retrospective data, Neyman's case selection bias, and the diagnostic suspicion bias are analyzed and shown to affect both the cohort incidence design and the clinical trial design as well as the case control.