Dr. Tom Chalmers, 1917-1995: the trials of a randomizer

Dr. Thomas Chalmers, an American physician who played a pivotal role in the scientific development of the randomized control trial and meta-analysis, died late last year. Shortly before Chalmers' death, Dr. Malcolm Maclure of the British Columbia Ministry of Health conducted a wideranging interview with him about his life and the past and future of clinical trials and evidence-based medicine. The first part is published below; the second part will appear in the Oct. 1 issue of CMAJ.