===== ⚖️ False Equivalence =====

**False equivalence** is a logical fallacy in which two distinct entities, situations, or treatments are presented as if they were equivalent, despite relevant differences that undermine the comparison's validity.

==== ⚠️ Key Characteristics ====
  * Superficial similarities mask important underlying differences  
  * Ignores confounding variables or context  
  * Often used in observational studies without proper adjustment  
  * Leads to misleading comparisons and flawed conclusions  

==== 🧪 Example in Clinical Research ====
  * Comparing microsurgical clipping and endovascular treatment of MCA aneurysms as if they were interchangeable, without accounting for aneurysm complexity, morphology, or patient selection bias.

==== 📉 Why It Matters ====
  * Encourages inappropriate treatment decisions  
  * Undermines evidence-based practice  
  * Distorts systematic reviews or meta-analyses  
  * Can be used to support biased or agenda-driven interpretations  

==== ✅ Best Practice ====
  * Ensure clinical and methodological comparability between groups  
  * Use stratification, matching, or multivariate adjustment  
  * Acknowledge and discuss key differences in study limitations