The Lyme Disease Controversies
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Room 301
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Philosophy, Ethics, Lyme disease.
Abstract
The Lyme disease controversies have sequestered conflicting audiences throughout the medical, political, scientific, financial, and environmental communities for more than two decades. This presentation speaks to the moral obligations owed society in the face of scientific uncertainty concerning our current state of health. It asks the reader to consider whether national health trumps other causes or whether priority be given to big business and big pharma. Should the boundaries of scientific evidence in present-day medicine be reevaluated? Is there a disconnect between national policies when several government agencies are involved? This paper asks if long-term antibiotics are inherently dangerous for human consumption or if they are only hazardous in light of factory farming. Should medical consultants be allowed to create guidelines which are perceived to insure financial success from products and services? All of these controversies have culminated into a perfect storm in connection to chronic Lyme disease and its patients. Additionally, in the midst of these battles, research has essentially halted. This presentation will argue for immediate and exponentially intensified financial underwriting by the government for the necessary research to answer these moral dilemmas.
Recommended Citation
DeVries, Tonia, "The Lyme Disease Controversies" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 103.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/oralpresentations/103
Additional Mentoring Department
Philosophy and Religious Studies
The Lyme Disease Controversies
SURC Room 301
The Lyme disease controversies have sequestered conflicting audiences throughout the medical, political, scientific, financial, and environmental communities for more than two decades. This presentation speaks to the moral obligations owed society in the face of scientific uncertainty concerning our current state of health. It asks the reader to consider whether national health trumps other causes or whether priority be given to big business and big pharma. Should the boundaries of scientific evidence in present-day medicine be reevaluated? Is there a disconnect between national policies when several government agencies are involved? This paper asks if long-term antibiotics are inherently dangerous for human consumption or if they are only hazardous in light of factory farming. Should medical consultants be allowed to create guidelines which are perceived to insure financial success from products and services? All of these controversies have culminated into a perfect storm in connection to chronic Lyme disease and its patients. Additionally, in the midst of these battles, research has essentially halted. This presentation will argue for immediate and exponentially intensified financial underwriting by the government for the necessary research to answer these moral dilemmas.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Altman, Matt