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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsHealthcareStarted 2yrs agoActive 1mo 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.

445 Replies

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

Yes

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

No

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

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

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

Yes, and the doctors should also lose their medical license

 @9MHCQW7disagreed…9mos9MO

It’s a little bit too harsh considering a person has the autonomy to choose what they do with their body. However I do agree if the doctor is negligently promoting a dangerous procedure despite other safer alternatives that should be penalised.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

Yes, this will decrease the amount of misinformation patients receive

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

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

 @9MHCQW7agreed…9mos9MO

If there’s no harm done why should one be penalised? A person should have the ultimate right to choose what they want to do with their body after they consider the merits of all options.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

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

 @B27KT34from Georgia  answered…1mo1MO

No, but doctors has to disclose it and in addition to that, they should only lose their license if it's proven to harm the patient.

 @9ZTZ4P5answered…2mos2MO

Doctor should be giving factual advice and should provide correct information to the patient and not have a bias / opinion on their condition

 @9ZRFRY4answered…2mos2MO

Yes, in issues where there is a clear consensus and the doctor should lose their medical license. However, for issues where a method or process is new and still being investigated and discovered, they should only be penalized if it is not disclosed that the advice contradicts contemporary scientific consensus.

 @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?

 @9Z997FSSocial Democratsanswered…3mos3MO

No, but only after first providing health advice in line with contemporary scientific consensus.

 @9NPQ5W6 answered…8mos8MO

Only if the advice is harmful to the patient otherwise no

 @9CX7B2VSocial Democratsanswered…2yrs2Y

Yes, if they’re doing it intentionally

 @99LBZB6answered…2yrs2Y

Sometimes a good doctor will not only know an old remedy but also when it can be prescribed appropriately.

 @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?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

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

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

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

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

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

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y

No, this limits medical debate and freedom of speech

 @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

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

 @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?

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