NR AFEB
AU Harrison,J.
TI Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Doctors and scientists must be able to communicate degree of risk...
QU British Medical Journal 1996 Apr 20; 312(7037): 1037-8
KZ BMJ. 1996 Mar 30;312(7034):795. PMID: 8608277
PT comment; letter
VT
EDITOR - The handling of the issue of bovine spongiform encephalopathy[i] is an example of the consequences of poor communication about risk. Risk management and the communication of risk are not new, and it is disappointing that the principles of the communication of risk have not been applied. The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States has published a set of rules and guidelines, most of which seem to have been ignored in the past few weeks[ii].' accept the public as a legitimate partner; listen to your audience; be honest, frank, and open; meet the needs of the media; speak clearly and with compassion; coordinate and collaborate with other credible sources; and plan carefully and evaluate performance.
Analysis of the problems encountered in terms of the sources of information on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the means of communication, the messages that have been given, and the people receiving the information is revealing. There is a general lack of trust in the responsible authorities; there has been disagreement among scientific experts; the reporting of the issues in the media has dramatised events and emphasised the conflicts; and it has been difficult to explain the scientific uncertainties to a lay public that has inaccurate perceptions of risk and demands scientific certainty.
While the finger of blame will be pointed at the government, none of us can afford to be complacent. As doctors or scientists we are asked to give opinions about a range of issues, not all of which lie within our area of expertise. We will probably also be asked about issues that are at the boundaries of medical and scientific knowledge and about which considerable uncertainty exists. It is incumbent onus to be aware of all the arguments and to be able to communicate the levels of uncertainty associated with them in an understandable fashion. We need to work with the media so that we remain in control of the debates, and, above all, we must preserve our professional credibility' at a time when those around us are losing theirs.
JOHN HARRISON Senior lecturer in occupational medicine
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine Medical School University of Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4HH
References
i. Dillner L. BSE linked to new variant or CJD in humans. BMJ 1996; 312:795 (30 March.)
ii. Cohrssen JJ, Covello VT. Risk analysis: a guide to principles and methods for analysing health and environmental risks Washington: National Technical Information Service, US Department of Commerce, 1989
ZR 2
MH *Communication; Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome/*transmission; Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform/*transmission; Human; Physicians; Risk Management; Science; Truth Disclosure
SP englisch
PO England
OR Prion-Krankheiten H