When scientists post science-based articles, suggesting that hocus-pocus, homeopathy or chiropractic are in some way without scientific merit, the law should protect them from frivolous libel lawsuits. Of course, you’ve heard about the lawsuit against Simon Singh in the UK.
Simon said:
The British Chiropractic Association claims that their members can help treat children with colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma and prolonged crying, even though there is not a jot of evidence. This organisation is the respectable face of the chiropractic profession and yet it happily promotes bogus treatments.
Read more at Bad Astronomy.
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2 responses so far ↓
1
palestar
// Jun 6, 2009 at 1:34 pm
why should scientists be exempt? unfortunately a few not so honest ones sell themselves to corporations and give false info regarding whether products are safe, et al. since they are human and make errors why should they be allowed to manipulate and not be held accountable… IMHO!
2
Null Session
// Jun 6, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Please read the link. If you are assuming that I am suggesting a class of people be given a pass at obeying libel laws, I am not.
When someone publishes an article in a professional journal, they should not be held responsible for how nature chooses to respond to their tests. In other words, if I perform double-blind clinical trials and show no efficacy to some particular drug with a group of patients, that is not my personal opinion, those are the facts of the study that are published. If they reflect negatively on the drug-maker, they should not be allowed to sue me for libel. It establishes a bad precedent.
If a scientist is called on to interpret a number of studies and give a professional opinion, he should not be sued for libel for doing so, just because some group feels they are being picked on.
So, it is science that we are asking not be censored to fit someone else’s belief system. We are not saying that scientists should be above the law.
Hopefully, Simon will find justice and a fair ear in the UK courts, and this will set a precedent. However, it is a huge waste of his and taxpayers dollars.
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