4 ms·
>The BMJ supports vaccination policies based on sound evidence. As the global vaccine rollout continues, it cannot be justifiable or in the best interests of pa
by daenz 5y ago
>The BMJ supports vaccination policies based on sound evidence. As the global vaccine rollout continues, it cannot be justifiable or in the best interests of patients and the public that we are left to just trust “in the system,” with the distant hope that the underlying data may become available for independent scrutiny at some point in the future. The same applies to treatments for covid-19. Transparency is the key to building trust and an important route to answering people’s legitimate questions about the efficacy and safety of vaccines and treatments and the clinical and public health policies established for their use.
Serious question: if the raw data could potentially undermine public trust in the US government, can it be classified as a matter of national security?
- YXNjaGVyZWdlbgo 5y agoEverythihng can be declared a matter of national security...
- wyldfire 5y agoYes, and there have been bad actors in the government who do that to try and avoid accountability. Hopefully they usually get overruled by someone with good sense in the executive branch. But if not, the judicial branch could overrule an invalid classification and order it be made public.
- ceejayoz 5y ago> Serious question: if the raw data could potentially undermine public trust in the US government, can it be classified as a matter of national security? No, probably not. The government doesn't really have the authority to classify information generated by private entities like Pfizer barring specific legislation. The closest you'd likely come is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invention_Secrecy_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invention_Secrecy_Act, but that allows (temporary) suppression of patents, not clinical trial data.
- walterbell 5y ago> The government doesn't really have the authority to classify information generated by private entities like Pfizer barring specific legislation. They can classify patents at will.
- ceejayoz 5y agoYes, and I cited the very specific legislation allowing that.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- walterbell 5y agoThanks for the link. My comment was posted before you added the citation.
- mike_d 5y ago> The government doesn't really have the authority to classify information generated by private entities Pfizer is a defense contractor. It is pretty standard boilerplate that when you receive DoD funds the government can restrict access to information, even unrelated to the products or research directly attributable to that funding. Not to say that I think the government would actually do that, just that they could.
- kklisura 5y agoYou know what else could undermine public trust in institutions? Classifying this data as a matter of national security.