John D. Kraemer, JD, MPH, assistant professor of health systems administration at Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies, and Lawrence O. Gostin, the Linda D. and Timothy J. O’Neill Professor of Global Health Law and faculty director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center, explore the balance of scientific freedom and national security in their opinion piece published online today entitled, “The Limits of Government Regulation of Science.”
In the piece Kramer and Gostin suggest enabling sound biosecurity research policies are preferable over the rule of law:
"If [the Department of Health and Human Services] improves its functioning, the institutional review process can ensure a sound balance between scientific freedom and national security. A fair, transparent process undertaken by research institutions, with a balanced approach to scientific benefits and public safety, together with HHS guidance and oversight of high-risk research, is preferable to government constraints on scientific information by force of law."
Click source to read the PDF of the opinion piece.
In the piece Kramer and Gostin suggest enabling sound biosecurity research policies are preferable over the rule of law:
"If [the Department of Health and Human Services] improves its functioning, the institutional review process can ensure a sound balance between scientific freedom and national security. A fair, transparent process undertaken by research institutions, with a balanced approach to scientific benefits and public safety, together with HHS guidance and oversight of high-risk research, is preferable to government constraints on scientific information by force of law."
Click source to read the PDF of the opinion piece.
