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.
Response rates from 2.7k Australia voters.
53% Yes |
47% No |
47% Yes |
28% No |
4% Yes, this will decrease the amount of misinformation patients receive |
9% No, but the doctors should be required to disclose that the advice contradicts contemporary scientific consensus |
1% Yes, and the doctors should also lose their medical license |
7% No, only when the advice was proven to harm the patient |
3% No, scientific consensus can quickly change and patients should be allowed to try unconventional ideas |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 2.7k Australia voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 2.7k Australia voters.
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Unique answers from Australia voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@B2S8S555mos5MO
Yes, as medical care should be based on scientific consensus. However experimental treatments should remain open to the terminally ill.
@B2KWFG66mos6MO
no but yes. no to debunked and nonsense advice, but yes for proven traditional health advice.
@B4YSG9B3mos3MO
Yes but who decides what is miss information because the government got codices 19 vacs completely wrong and condemned anyone who questioned it or resisted it essentially forced everyone to get multiple vaccines and then said yeah we probably got it wrong so government knows nothing about medical advice and it changes from patient to patient
@B4WFYWG3mos3MO
No, unless the advice has been found to be actively incorrect and/or harmful in the past for the majority of patients.
@B4TTKRG3mos3MO
Yes, they should be able to penalise for unequivocal misinformation, but there should be a caveat for grey areas in the scientific consensus.
@B45LXSB4mos4MO
Yes, depending on the severity of the situation. It will reduce the amount of doctors who might be unqualified and miss using their position. But in situations where they gave advice they aren't qualified or unproven, that ends up hurting the patent the doctor should have their licence stripped.
@B2DVYCF6mos6MO
Where doctors give advice that contradicts consensus, they should inform the patient of the contradiction, explain the discrepancy, support their advice with evidence and be accountable if the patient follows it.
@B24STGS7mos7MO
Yes, and subject them to a review of their medical license if this behavior is repeated.
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