Censoring the scientists

• Published in: Canadian pharmacists journal Vol. 141; no. 2; pp. 69 - 70
• Main Author: Taylor, Iain E. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC 01.03.2008
• Subjects: Censorship; Freedom of information; Public interest; Public policy; Scientists; Canada
• ISSN: 1715-1635; 1913-701X
• DOI: 10.3821/1913-701X(2008)141[69:CTS]2.0.CO;2

It was a Canadian scientist, Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey, whose expert knowledge, seemingly ignored in Canada, stopped the US Food and Drug Administration from approving thalidomide for widespread use in the 1960s. While at least 17 American children were born with thalidomide-related deformities, these may have resulted from the 2.5 million sample tablets distributed in the US during the "investigational" phase of the pharmaceutical company's applications. In the Health Canada case, the record shows that after he spoke to a Senate Committee, Dr. [Shiv Chopra] was told by a supervisor that he could be "sent to a place where you'll never be heard again." Clearly "whistleblowing" can be hazardous. The cases of [Linda Keen], [Art Carty], and the Ministry of the Environment employee are still unresolved, but the scientific community needs leadership from established professionals, such as pharmacists, to ensure that governments do not gag employees. While policy decisions obviously belong in the political domain, public service scientists are professionally obliged to provide best-available evidence and to ensure that it is not misrepresented by a distorted and damaged conduit to the public. This already includes the obligation for scientists to publish in peer-reviewed journals and speak at scientific meetings. The obligation must extend to open availability to the public and ensuring that policy is based on best-available evidence directed to the public good. Scientists and applied scientific professionals have an ethical obligation to speak very clearly to ensure the public interest.