The Encyclopedia
of World Problems
& Human Potential

Suppression of scientific information

Name(s):

Suppression of experimental data

Nature

Under certain conditions information in scientific reports is suppressed. This may due to pressures from the bodies sponsoring the reports (government agencies, foundations, or corporations). A common reason is maintenance of national security in the case of governments and maintenance of competitive advantage in the case of corporations. It may also be due to the embarrassing nature of the information and the effect it may have on public opinion.

Incidence

A French court convicted three former health officials in 1992 on charges of distributing tainted blood that resulted in the infection of more than 1,250 haemophiliacs with the AIDS virus. Of the victim, 273 had already died. One responsible cabinet minister testified that he and others in the government also knew that all blood stocks were contaminated more than four months before they were ordered to be withdrawn.

Broader

Abuse of science

Suppression of information

Secrecy in scientific research

Narrower

Suppression of medical information

Aggravates

Unsafe blood-related products ^{[in 2 loops]}

Selective perception of facts ^{[in 5 loops]}

Unapplied scientific knowledge

Destruction of scientific records ^{[in 1 loop]}

Conceptual repression of problems ^{[in 5 loops]}

Inaccessible scientific information

Inconclusiveness of scientific and medical tests ^{[in 6 loops]}

Aggravated by

Scientific censorship

Reward biased research

Commercialization of research

Endorsement of false government claims

Official cover-up of consequences of experiments

Non-recognition of health problems by the medical profession

Strategy(ies)

Suppressing scientific information

Value(s)

Type

(F) Fuzzy exceptional problems

About the Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

About UIA

The Union of International Associations (UIA) is a research institute and documentation centre, based in Brussels. It was established in 1907, by Henri la Fontaine (Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1913), and Paul Otlet, a founding father of what is now called information science.

Non-profit, apolitical, independent, and non-governmental in nature, the UIA has been a pioneer in the research, monitoring and provision of information on international organizations, international associations and their global challenges since 1907.

www.uia.org

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Suppression of scientific information

About the Encyclopedia

About UIA