SCIENCE IS BEING SMOTHERED

Years ago, working in a mental hospital, I watched what happened to good treatment when insurance and the hospital administrators of money got involved as they had never been before.  When non-medically trained people make medical decisions, patient care deteriorates.  Today I listened to Science Friday on NPR when the discussion was how independent scientists have been prohibited by lawyers and 'the government' (whoever that may be) from doing research they have been doing all along.  Their samples and notes have been appropriated by these 'authorities'.  Ludicrously, one scientist reported being told it was for National Security!

There are many considerations that have not been sufficiently aired to the public.  Some of the studies are about the affect The BP Oils Spill is having on the environment.  However, if the lawyers stifle all independent research, where should one expect to get the truth.  It was pointed out that independent researchers were prohibited from testing cigarettes and offering their results when there were trials about the affects of smoking.  It has only been some several years later that we have seen that the tobacco companies were their own fox in the hen house. 

The question has been raised again as to how we can ignore the conflict of interest issues when the regulators are the same who are doing the research.  At the end of May it was announced that BP Grant money was expected to finance dispersant research at LSU (Louisiana State University).  It is not clear how BP can do research on chemicals that will be entered into litigation.  It would suggest that no independent researchers will be party to their own research.

On August 4, 2010,  it was declared that the BPO oil spill was the largest anywhere, ever.  This information came from new data compiled by a team of government-sponsored scientists.  Might this not be adding difficulty that by a team of government-sponsored scientists.  Might this not be adding an encumbrance to their litigation greater than allowing accredited independent scientists to do their own testing?

It certainly seems a great pity that litigation will prevent the scientific work needed to have started by now to properly evaluate what was done and what needs to be done to minimize the worst effects.  But who is to remove all the impediments that are preventing such action?