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.
Statistics are shown for this demographic
Constituency
City
Parish
Response rates from 396 SO voters.
51% Yes |
49% No |
44% Yes |
27% No |
7% Yes, this will decrease the amount of misinformation patients receive |
12% No, but the doctors should be required to disclose that the advice contradicts contemporary scientific consensus |
1% Yes, and the doctors should also lose their medical license |
9% No, only when the advice was proven to harm the patient |
1% No, scientific consensus can quickly change and patients should be allowed to try unconventional ideas |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 396 SO voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 396 SO voters.
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Unique answers from SO voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@9RT5H6H4mos4MO
Only if the consensus has been in place for a significant enough period of time to be sufficiently proven - i.e., years - and not where the information is questionable and subjective (e.g., the COVID pandemic).
@9QQMJNR5mos5MO
if you are going into the medical industry, you should fully belive that what you give out to patients works, if you have any doubts then you shouldn’t be in that industry
@9QD8ZFR5mos5MO
Yes, only if the advice can be proven harmful or if it has not been explicitly stated to the patient that this advice is contrary to scientific consensus.
@9Q83PJ85mos5MO
No, but the doctor must be required to disclose that it contradicts contemporary consensus, and be liable if it contributes to further harm
@9Q4DQ3F 5mos5MO
advice differing from scientific consensus should be passed through peer review as to remove ridiculous ideas.
@9PT49RH5mos5MO
We need to sort out contemporary science consensus and make sure it's correct. Dr Fauci said he made up a lot of COVID restrictions
@9PRC3G65mos5MO
This depends on the effectiveness of the advice, if that results in an injury or death of the patient they should be suspended.
@9NJKCZC6mos6MO
Yes, and the doctors should also lose their medical license if the misinformation is especially harmful, such as anti-vax or promoting harmful alternative medicine practices
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