Collision or convergence?: beliefs and politics in neuroscience discovery, ethics, and intervention

Ben Paylor; Holly Longstaff; Fabio Rossi; Judy Illes

doi:10.1016/j.tins.2014.06.001

Collision or convergence?: beliefs and politics in neuroscience discovery, ethics, and intervention

Trends Neurosci. 2014 Aug;37(8):409-12. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2014.06.001.

Authors

Ben Paylor¹, Holly Longstaff², Fabio Rossi¹, Judy Illes³

Affiliations

¹ Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
² National Core for Neuroethics, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia Hospital, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
³ National Core for Neuroethics, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia Hospital, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC, V6T 2B5, Canada. Electronic address: jilles@mail.ubc.ca.

PMID: 25086860
DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2014.06.001

Abstract

Discovery and interventions for neurological disorders have a unique capacity to galvanize public opinion over issues of access, human rights, decision making, and the definition of disease. Here we highlight five cases where beliefs and politics prevailed over evidence and ethics. We examine lessons from them about the communication of risk and the power of public influence on science, society, and policy.

Keywords: Gulf War syndrome; MMR vaccine; Stamina Foundation; Terri Schiavo; autism; chronic cerebrospinal vascular insufficiency (CCSVI); health policy; multiple sclerosis; neurological disease; public opinion.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Central Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology
Central Nervous System Diseases / therapy*
Culture*
Decision Making
Health Policy
Humans
Neurosciences / ethics*
Politics*

Grants and funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada