Whither Scientific Deliberation in Health Policy Recommendations? — Alice in the Wonderland of Breast-Cancer Screening

Abstract

“Let the jury consider their verdict,” the King said, for about the twentieth time that day. “No, no!” said the Queen. “Sentence first — verdict afterwards.” “Stuff and nonsense!” said Alice loudly. “The idea of having the sentence first!” “Hold your tongue!” said the Queen, turning purple. “I won't!” said Alice. “Off with her head!” the Queen shouted at the top of her voice.— Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland At 9 a.m. on January 23, 1997, after two days of speeches and presentations at a consensus-development conference sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the conference panel . . .