Medical reporting in the lay press does the public a disservice

[HuckleB]

http://doctorrw.blogspot.com/2010/08/medical-reporting-in-lay-press-does.html

"Medical reporting in the lay press does the public a disservice
---because it distorts more than it informs. Regular readers of this blog know that I've been critical of the popular media for a long time. My favorite media outlet to pick on is the New York Times because it is purported to be the most reliable source for medical news. When they blow it, and they usually do, we really need to be concerned about the rest of the popular media.

A number of years ago I ran across Science Education in Preparation for the Ministry. The premise of the document, written by pathologist and teacher Ed Friedlander, MD, was that because members of the clergy are often called on to speak in areas where morality and ethics interface with science, they should have some prerequisite knowledge. Orac's latest example of credulous and sloppy medical reporting in the New York Times got me to thinking that maybe there should be similar learning objectives for journalists. So, borrowing some ideas from Dr. Friedlander, here were a few that came to mind:


Outline the scientific method.

Explain the hazards of examining scientific questions in the arena of public debate.

..."

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If only medical reporters and media outlets actually gave a rip.