What is trustworthy--scientific theory?

First-off, what is a scientific theory?

A scientific theory is basically an explanation for some aspect(s) of the natural world which has been, apparently, confirmed many times by observation or experiment. So, scientific theories have majority approval, commonly called "consensus", among academics and scientists.

Are scientific theories trustworthy? Otherwise put, is it reasonable to place trust in scientific consensus?

This question requires historical research. Investigation into the field of Biology digs up the following theories:

• Miasma Theory (ancient times - 1880 A.D.): Wherein epidemic diseases were accounted to exposure to "bad air" or "night air" - Debunked by Robert Koch in his discovery that the anthrax bacterium causes anthrax (http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1905/koch-bio.html).

• Preformationism (495 B.C. - ~1808 A.D.): Wherein organisms were said to develop from infinitely tiny versions of the adult - Debunked by John Dalton with his atomic theory of matter (http://science.jrank.org/pages/2451/Embryology-History-embryology-science.html).

• Spontaneous Generation (322 B.C. - 1859 A.D.) - Debunked by French microbiologist and chemist Louis Pasteur (http://www.bbc.co.uk/timelines/z9kj2hv#zqqnyrd).

• Maternal Impression (~200 A.D. - ~1800 A.D.): Wherein a mother's emotional state during pregnancy was thought to cause visible deformities in her child's appearance - Debunked by anatomist and physician William Hunter, along with his brother John Hunter (http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/04/the-odd-superstition-behind-birthmarks/389958/ and http://www.childrenshospital.org/centers-and-services/vascular-anomalies-center-program/research-and-innovation/history_-from-folklore-to-science).

• Lamarkism (1809 A.D. - 1900 A.D.): Wherein organisms were thought to pass on characteristics acquired within their lifespans - Debunked by Mendelian genetics (http://www.britannica.com/science/Lamarckism).

One might argue that these theories arose before the era of modern science and full development of the scientific method--"we are no longer so blinded as to make mistakes like these anymore."

How do such mistakes arise?

There is oversight (not looking in the right places or using the wrong equipment). There is extrapolated hypothesizing, accepted by the uninformed as fact. Scientists can easily tack hypothesizing into the "Conclusions" section of their papers (note the words "may", "indicate", "suggest", "if", "appear", "we feel", and other vagary). And there is blatant lying.

Detected, Modern Research Misconduct in USA: https://ori.hhs.gov/case_summary