This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

In the book called, Wrong, by David H. Freedman. The subtitle is, Why experts keep failing us - and how to know when not to trust them.

In the book, Freedman argues, “Experts are rarely interested in getting at the truth, whatever it may be. What they want to do is prove that certain things are true. Which things? Well, whatever they happen to believe is true, for reasons, or whatever will benefit their careers or status or funding the most.

Yes, scientists, even prestigious ones, being human, are subject to pressures to cheat. Getting published. Getting grants. Getting press.

Finally there is the problem of consensus. “There’s a cultural norm of how we’re supposed to behave as professionals, and part of it is that we’re overly trained in consensus,” said Daniel Eisenstadt, director, a Harvard business school graduate quoted in Wrong.

That culture favors building on others opinions rather than challenging them.

Once a majority opinion is formed, even highly competent, confident people are reluctant to voice opinions that go against it, Freedman reports.

Wrong reports that groups amplify bias, squash minority points of view and can even overcome the correct point of view when it’s the majority view. “In most situations, truth doesn’t win out in groups.” Especially when big money, in the form of corporate grants and yes, government grants, is at stake.

For instance, why would a university that depends heavily on government grants go out of its way to condemn a professor who landed government millions for research?”

“Don’t overestimate the expertise of experts.”

Over the past two years, Duncan has consulted with several international experts and participated in seven of the nine conferences on CCSVI. She spoke twice at the recent International Society for Neurovascular Disease (ISNVD) summit held in Orlando, Florida.

“I also spent hundreds of hours reviewing magnetic resonance images and studying the liberation procedure,” Duncan points out. Along with MP Carolyn Bennett, she then took the CCSVI battle to parliament in May of 2010, requesting the launch of trials and a national registry.