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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsHealthcare2yrs ago

Should medical boards penalize doctors who give health advice that contradicts contemporary scientific consensus?

In 2022 lawmakers in the U.S. state of California passed legislation which empowered the state medical board to discipline doctors in the state who “disseminate misinformation or disinformation” that contradicts the “contemporary scientific consensus” or is “contrary to the standard of care.” Proponents of the law argue that doctors should be punished for spreading misinformation and that there is clear consensus on certain issues such as that apples contain sugar, measles is caused by a virus, and Down syndrome is caused by a chromosomal abnormality. Opponents argue that the law limits freedom of speech and scientific “consensus” often changes within mere months.

437 Replies

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

No, but the doctors should be required to disclose that the advice contradicts contemporary scientific consensus

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

No, only when the advice was proven to harm the patient

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

No, scientific consensus can quickly change and patients should be allowed to try unconventional ideas

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

No

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

Yes

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

Yes, this will decrease the amount of misinformation patients receive

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

How do you think spreading unverified medical information by a professional could affect public health?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

Should a doctor's personal beliefs influence the health advice they give to their patients?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

What if a treatment worked for you but is not widely accepted by the scientific community, should the doctor be penalized for recommending it?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

Can you think of a time when the 'scientific consensus' was wrong and how that impacts your view on this issue?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

In your opinion, how can a balance be maintained between innovation in medicine and adhering to established scientific facts?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

Should doctors who disagree with prevalent scientific consensus have a platform to express their views, and why?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

How might punishing doctors for their advice affect the patient-doctor trust relationship?

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

Yes, and the doctors should also lose their medical license

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

No, this limits medical debate and freedom of speech

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

How would you feel if a doctor gave you health advice that later turned out to be incorrect?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

Should there be a line drawn between freedom of speech and professional responsibility in healthcare, and where would you draw it?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

If a doctor's advice based on old scientific beliefs harms a patient, who should be held responsible?