Sometimes it’s the message that’s not to be trusted, sometimes it’s the messenger, sometimes it’s both. How can we tell the difference?
What is confusing is that so many messages are a mixture of (best known) truths, (manipulative) falsehoods, (honest) mistakes, and (unstated) uncertainties.
Life, death, disabilities, fear, hate, blame, loss of trust, disbelief, disgust, and loss of relationships are all, “in-play” if we toss out good information / good advice because the messenger doesn’t engender trust.
At best, science should inform policy making (i.e. even the best of science shouldn’t automatically become policy).
By the same token, policy or culture should not be allowed to influence the scientific process.
It is a desirable balancing act to have tension between the scientific process and policy making.
Charles Tadros, M.D.
March 29, 2023
Saint Louis, Missouri