John Ruffin, former head of the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities wrote:
"The 19th-century scientist and pathologist Rudolph Virchow gave voice to many of our present-day concerns about disparities and went a long way toward defining the task before us. A socially minded man, he believed that science should speak the language of the common people and that medicine should serve the public's health. He wrote, 'If medicine is to fulfill her greatest task, then she must enter the political and social life…'"
Do you agree and why? Is it permissible for scientists to become advocates in the areas of their research?
I do agree. Not only is it permissible for scientists to become advocates in their area of research, they should be advocates. Specifically, physician scientists have a social responsibility to advocate on behalf of their patients. As content experts in particular fields, physician scientists are well positioned to influence policy by having an appreciation and understanding of specific gaps in the literature that should be addressed. One way in which physician scientists can advocate on behalf of their patients is to pursue research that may influence health policy.
What steps can one take to balance advocacy with the objectivity that is considered the ideal in scientific inquiry?
There are many steps that one can take to balance advocacy with the objectivity that is considered ideal in scientific inquiry. One must be methodical in how they design and implement studies by (1) rigorously identifying agents for change, (2) developing strategic questions and study designs, and (3) thinking carefully about how to communicate findings in order to strengthen the policy bridge. Scientific inquiry should be rigorous, and having rigorous study design and data interpretation should take priority over the potential implication of the findings. Ethical dilemmas, including those related to problem selection, publication, and engaging society, should be carefully considered, and the science itself should be objective as possible.