Do not believe everything you read

One of the aims of Global Women is to demystify what is written in the press about Women’s Health.  When you read something (including the press, books, scientific papers and our web site) it is the view of the person writing the article.  They may have interpreted their source incorrectly, they may have used an incorrect source and they may have a specific opinion about the topic.

I have always been very sceptical about what I read in the newspapers and other media.   The press have interviewed me many times and almost every time – the article they have written has been an incorrect interpretation of what I said.

But unfortunately, information in scientific papers and textbooks may also be incorrect. As a scientist I read each scientific paper with an open mind, evaluate the methods, results and conclusion.  Science advances quickly with new information sometimes contradicting previous studies.  We have to keep up to date and be willing to change our mind.  Text books are a particular problem as by the time they are published, there may be new scientific information that contradicts part of the book.

In almost every field there will be topics that are controversial.  As new scientific information emerges, scientists interpret this in different ways and it is easy to find two scientists with totally opposing views. A major part of most scientific conferences are debates; where two experts in the field debate a topic as they have opposite views. It is always easy to find a topic for debate.

My main area of research since 1992 has been preimplantation genetic diagnosis – a procedure where we genetically analyse the embryo for couples at risk of transmitting a genetic disease to their children. A variation of this procedure – preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) – has been hugely controversial. Several of my very close friends have been in favour of this procedure whereas I do not feel we currently have enough information to acknowledge its benefits. We have had many debates about it and it has caused me a lot of heartache. It is very difficult when close friends have opposite views on any topic, but even more so when it is work related.

I run two Masters programmes.  On the first day I tell my students not to believe everything they read, even in the scientific literature, and also do not believe everything their teachers tell them (including me).   In term 1 my students take on two tasks:  first to take a scientific paper that has been reported in the press and look at how the press reported it.  I have done this for years and I can safely say that the press have varying levels of misinterpretation and rarely get it 100% correct.  Their second task is to read a scientific paper and see if the study is robust.  Unfortunately few published studies stand up to this analysis.

In 2016 when we want to find information we Google it or check Wikipedia.  The Internet has become our teacher.  This is not a bad thing as it makes information easier to obtain but it is important to keep an open mind and not believe everything you read or hear – no matter what the source.   What I write is just my opinion and I know there are those who do not share my opinion.

This post was prompted as yesterday we had a long discussion on our Facebook group about the effects fizzy drinks have on your body.  It was clear that people interpret the information in different ways.  And today I have written a report about the new guidelines from the UK’s Chief Medical Officers that says drinking a glass of wine a day is not good for you, but I know there will be some who disagree.  The alcohol guidelines has taken into account new scientific information which contradicts the information analysed in the last report published 1995.

So the message from this post is to take in information but to keep an open mind.  As you learn more, be prepared to change your mind.

Albert Einstein: The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvellous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.

Image credit: www.quotehd.com and larochecollege.blogspot.com