Originally Posted by
GUWonder
A person doesn't need to be a doctor or scientist to properly access information from qualified experts who are one or both of the mentioned. And even if one is either or both of those by training and profession, there are still ways to properly access information from qualified experts who are one or both of the mentioned and arrive at the same conclusion.
You do need to be an expert to judge conflicting reports though. Or rather you need to be fully exposed to the facts on both sides. There are countless cases where top level scientists from American are in disagreement with top level scientists in Europe (as an example). So if you only read the journals from the US side you might claim that they are fact, but you'd be missing out on the arguments from the Euro side. That's why in subjects like this which might have gray area, it's wise to not make blanket assertions without qualification.
And if you look back in history, there are also countless examples of following generations proving that previously established scientific "fact" was incorrect. Again, it's wise to be careful with such statements.
I have a background in biology and hospitals and I know for a fact that the formal hygiene rules in US hospitals, which are considered tested and true by US doctors, are laughed at in France. By their scientific standards US hospitals are bacteria-laced cesspools.