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Experts - the usual suspects

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-21 08:20

The public is losing faith in some experts since their opinions have frequently turned out to be nonsense. Accountability mechanism is the best solution to the rebuilding of their credibility, says an article in Qilu Evening News. Excerpts:

The public no longer trusts experts, whose opinions were frequently questioned recently and finally proved to be nonsense.

Workers from Jilin Chemical Fiber Group suspected that the adverse reactions they suffered these days had something to do with the toxic gases leaked from Kangnai'er Chemical Industries Limited nearby. After conducting tests in the field, a group of seven medical specialists believed the workers' adverse reactions "was mostly related to psychogenic factors, since the possibility of chemical poisoning has been excluded".

However, a document entitled "Suggestions on Work Safety" recently issued by State Administration of Work Safety on its website confirmed that there was a leak of toxic gases in Kangnai'er Chemical Industries Limited in Jilin. This conclusion overturned an earlier conclusion arrived at by an experts group.

It is reported that "consultation" has become the main work of some economists, and their earnings rose by 10 times in three years. A system of accountability, it is believed may contribute to rebuilding the credibility of experts.

As for the poisoning case in Jilin province, the authorities need to deal with it seriously by probing whether external forces were at work to influence the experts' conclusion.

(China Daily 05/21/2009 page8)