Sins Against Science - How Misinformation Affects Our Lives and Laws

Misinformation has had dramatic and dangerous effects, as evidenced by numerous events of the late 2010s and early 2020s. Reading a steady stream of misinformation leads to distrust, potentially leading to conflict in one's family and workplace, and even to civil unrest. At the heart of many such matters is scientific illiteracy. Many people enjoy a life of ease and convenience because of science--and since science also crosses courtrooms, classrooms and cultures, it has great potential to debunk misinformation and untangle the confusion on such issues as vaccines, sexual identity, race and evolution, alternative medicine, and human reproduction.
This book addresses those issues and the popular stories, conspiracies, and misleading headlines that circulate across media platforms. Bringing accurate knowledge into people's agendas is challenging, and this book uses science and facts as a basis of every deliberation over laws and policies. The chapters weave together history, politics, human biology, and law, and demonstrate how our lives are dependent on understanding the nature of things.

List of contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Jim Obergefell

Preface

Introduction. Approach the Bench: Opening Statements and Newsfeeds

U.S. Landmark Case: New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964); (9-0 decision)

The Necessity of This Book� Legislation�; Current Events�; A Popular Press Science Book Is Born�; Tropism�; Intellectual Curiosity and Skepticism�; Science�

1.ç·½linded by Science: The Discipline of Facts

U.S. Landmark Case: Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 279 (1993); (9-0 decision)

Scientific Literacy�; How Science Works�; Science, Religion and Life�

2.縃ello Dolly: Genetics

U.S. Landmark Case: Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, 569 U.S. 576 (2013); (9-0 decision)

Principles of Genetics�; Genetics as a Science�; Manipulating Genes in Animals and People�; Cloning and Twinning�; Types and Purposes of Cloning�; Eugenics�; Modifying Genes and Genetic Screening�; Genetic Engineering�

3.縏ime Travel: Evolution and Race

U.S. Landmark Case: Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987); (7-2 decision)

Dinner Party Topics�; Evolution�; Tracing Our Ancestry�; Classifying Living Things�; Homo sapiens�; Coding for Skin Color�; Human Zoos�; The Tuskegee Study�; Racism in Medicine�; We're More Alike Than We Are Different�; The Founder Effect�

4.縅ungle Love: Sexual Identity

U.S. Landmark Case: Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584 (2015); (5-4 decision)

Being Gay�; Chromosomes�; Sexual Behavior�; Homosexuality�

5.ç·½irds and Bees: Human Reproduction

U.S. Landmark Case: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), (7-2 decision)

Introduction�; Sex Education�; Vasectomy, Circumcision and the Hymen�; Rape�; Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)�; Overview of Reproductive Structures�; Oocytes and Sperm�; Reproductive Biology�; Problems with Pregnancy�2; Breastfeeding�4; Separation of Church and State�6; The Tension Between Science and Faith: Choice�7; Planned Parenthood, Obstetrics and Gynecology�3; Legislating Reproductive Health�5

6.縎taying Alive: Vaccines and the Immune System

U.S. Landmark Case: Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, 562 U.S. 223 (2011); (6-2 decision)

Preventing Disease�8; Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism�9; Vaccine History�1; Our Immune System�3; Vaccines and Vaccine Development�6; Vaccine Myths�1

7.縎nake Oil: Complementary and Alternative Medicine

U.S. Landmark Case: Dent v. West Virginia, 129 U.S. 114 (1889); (9-0 decision)

Outside Mainstream Medicine�5; The Placebo Response�7; Acupuncture�8; Homeopathy�9; Naturopathy, Supplements and Herbal Remedies�9; Chiropractic�1; Cardiovascular Disease Treatment�2; Osteoarthritis Treatment�3; Back Pain Treatment�3; Depression and Anxiety Treatment�4

8.縄 Want a New Drug: The Good, the Bad and the Unknown

U.S. Landmark Case: Gonzales v. Raich, 545 U.S. 1 (2005); (6-3 decision)

A Story About Epinephrine (Adrenaline)�6; Pharmacology�8; Drug Tolerance�3; Drug Cumulative Effect�4; Drug Synergism�4; Drug Development�5; Special Drug Programs�1; Drug Addiction�1; Alcohol�2; Opioids, Marijuana and Tobacc�4; War on Drugs�0; Changing Health Behavior�1

9.縏he Final Chapter: Death and Dying

U.S. Landmark Case: Cruzan v. Missouri Department of Health, 497 U.S. 261 (1990); (5-4 decision)

Defining Death and Characteristics of Death�3; Brain Death and the Harvard Committee�6; Perspectives on Death�7; Postmortem Myths and Facts�9; Hypothermia and the Diving Reflex�1; Cardiovascular Disease�3; Psychology of Death�5; Palliative Care and Hospice�7; Experiencing Challenging Circumstances and Terminal Lucidity�8; Dying of a Broken Heart�9; Death Penalty�0; Choice at the End�5; Anorexia Nervosa and Cachexi�7; Terminally Ill�9; End-of-Life Decision-Making Organizations�0; On a Final Note�0

Bibliography

Index

About the author

Judi Nath is an internationally acclaimed textbook author, biology professor, certified health education specialist and past president of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society. Her skill for making complex topics easily understood and relevant has earned her numerous teaching and faculty excellence awards, including Ohio's Memorable Educator. She lives on the southern shore of Lake Erie.

Summary

Bringing accurate scientific knowledge into people's agendas is challenging, and this book works by using science and facts as a basis of every deliberation over laws and policies. The chapters, respectfully and scientifically, unravel complex relationships surrounding the issues.

Product details

• Authors: Judi Nath
• Publisher: McFarland
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2021
• EAN: 9781476686394
• ISBN: 978-1-4766-8639-4
• No. of pages: 242
• Dimensions: 178 mm x 254 mm x 14 mm
• Weight: 463 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Education > School education, didactics, methodology; Social sciences, law, business > Media, communication > Media science