Legalising science

Abstract

The legal view of science has changed through time, moving from a positivist and noncritical position of law towards science to a critical view of science--providing the potential for more objective knowledge, but value-laden as well--and of the role of society. This paper explores some judicial cases that illustrate these attitudes, suggesting that reference to science (particularly to EBM) can be rigorously and equitably made when it serves the cause of transparency and democratisation both in science and in law.