"There is a widely held faith that research will rescue us from the burdens of being human - from the illnesses, suffering and death that go along with our status as biological organisms," she says. "This book describes some of the costs of this faith and emphasizes that scientific progress is almost universally slow, highly uncertain and complicated to measure."

"Reducing these costs will require advocates, scientists, officials and the rest of us to become more realistic about the sort of salvation science can offer," she adds.

To reduce public confusion about the differences between experimental interventions and established therapies, advocates should promote straightforward information about clinical trials and acknowledge the limits of research, Dresser says. To minimize competition and questionable decision-making in research funding, they could expand their view to encompass the best interests of numerous patient groups and broader societal concerns, including greater access to standard health care.

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Contact: Ann Nicholson
ann_nicholson@aismail.wustl.edu
314-935-5251
Washington University in St. Louis
6-Aug-2001