MAINSTREAMING AN OUTLIER: THE QUEST TO CORROBORATE THE SECOND LANCET SURVEY OF MORTALITY IN IRAQ

I survey much evidence on mortality in Iraq, including data from the first and second Lancet surveys. The second Lancet survey is inconsistent with all credible and relevant information on levels and trends in violent deaths and on the geographical distribution of violence. I discuss weaknesses in attempts made by The Bloomberg School of Public Health and authors of the second Lancet survey to claim corroboration for the second Lancet survey from other sources. These attempts notwithstanding, the second Lancet survey is a clear outlier within a wide body of evidence on mortality in Iraq.