The latest issue of Nature had a very interesting discussion over research on the effects of Agent Orange. In the 1980s, researchers were asserting that they were finding little evidence for correlating Agent orange to veterans’ health problems, but the VA countered that a large-scale study would be infeasible. In 1991, however, the National Academies found that a large-scale study would indeed be possible. Fast forward 15 years, and an independent study has yet to occur, in which the VA refuses to provide funding.

While it’s understandable that the VA would feel uneasy sponsoring a study that could diminish resources to our veterans, such a study is key to restoring public perception of the VA as an institute that is trustworthy and cares most about discovering the truth, not to continue programs that may not be effective (see Walter Reed, VA Medical Center in Dallas). Such a program would also foster groundwork for more effective large-scale studies on other issues such as psychological studies.

Almost all research on veterans and Agent Orange is funded by the VA, with other researchers facing large barriers to getting department data. The VA is not exactly a bastion of public trust or even competence. In order to better receive results, they must engage researchers that are not their own, streamline the data system to make information more available, and provide funding to research potentially questionable assertions accepted  as truths.

Image taken by Flickr user pixiduc under a Creative Commons License.