Scientists also complain about inaccuracy. They admit, though, that inaccuracy is mainly a problem, not of getting the facts wrong, but of omitting qualifiers or details necessary to place information in a proper perspective. The omission of information in many reports of the saccharin controversy is a case in point.
Scientists often tell horror stories of being misquoted, misinterpreted or even maligned. For example, the chairman of the International Task Force on World Health and Manpower was once asked by a reporter whether he thought witch doctors can effectively administer medication in Africa. He replied that they probably could because of their high credibility in the population. The headline the following day read "U.N. Expert Calls for More Witch Doctors."
Part of the tradition of science is a strong belief in the value of open communication; secrecy is believed to be damaging.
Recently, however, science has come to depend on ...
