Decision Analysis and Bioequivalence Trials

It is argued that the determination of bioequivalence involves a decision, and is not purely a problem of inference. A coherent method of decision-making is examined in detail for a simple trial of bioequivalence. The result is shown to differ seriously from the inferential method, using significance tests, ordinarily used. The reason for the difference is explored. It is shown how the decision-analytic method can be used in more complicated and realistic trials and the case for its general use presented.