Great Piece On The Male And Female Brains Study, Equality, Individuals, And Medical Ethics

[HuckleB]

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/male-and-female-brains/#more-8631

"...

What are we to make of the results of this study? To summarize my own approach, I think it is counter productive and not scientifically accurate to deny that there are real differences between identifiable categories of people.

At the same time it is important to recognize when those difference are only statistical with large overlap. What this means is that in such cases it is not scientifically justifiable to treat individuals as members of a group. Membership in a group does not predict what traits the individual will have. It is therefore best to treat people as individuals.

From an ethical point of view this also works. The basic principle of respect for everyone’s individual dignity demands that people be generally treated as individuals. It just so happens that science supports that position also.

...

Genetic heritage, for example, is used to predict the probability of certain diseases or even the response to certain treatments. We don’t ignore race or sex in medicine, because these categories have a statistical reality that informs our very important practical decisions. But we recognize that these categories don’t always predict individual traits. Patients – and all people – still need to be treated like individuals."


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Dr. Novella hits it out of the park, yet again.