Truth, Lies, and Public Health: How We Are Affected When Science and Politics Collide

The "politicalization" of research findings has become prevalent over the past two decades. Politics often prevents the implementation of policy supported by irrefutable science. Most of us understand something about how this is happening with stem cell research, but Cornell's Madelon Finkel delves deep into the subject to make the issues clear, also revealing how ideology and politics are distorting, diminishing and destroying scientific research results regarding topics from needle exchange, HIV/AIDS prevention and medical marijuana to antiobiotic use with animals later marketed for human consumption.

Madelon Lubin Finkel is Professor of Clinical Public Health at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. She serves as Director of the Office of International Medical Education as well as Director of Cornell Analytics Consulting Services at Weill Medical College. Health care policy and women's health issues are the focus of her research. She also authoredUnderstanding the Mammography Controversy: Science, Politics, and Breast Cancer Screening (Praeger, 2005).