# 6162
I’m a bit chagrinned to admit that I hadn’t checked Peter Sandman’s terrific risk communications website over the weekend in the wake of last Friday’s decision from the Technical consultation on H5N1 held in Geneva.
Had I, I would have found a long and thoughtful essay on the need for respectful dialog . . . not `education’ or one sided advocacy in ongoing H5N1 discussions.
While not experts in virology, or influenza, Dr. Peter Sandman and his wife and colleague Dr. Jody Lanard, are often consulted on pandemic communication issues and are internationally recognized experts in all manner of risk communications.
Their website, quite frankly, should be required reading for anyone who’s job it is to deal with the public during a crisis.
The Peter M. Sandman Risk Communication Website
Last Friday Dr. Sandman sent Lisa Schnirring of CIDRAP news a long email with his thoughts on the press releases coming out of the Geneva meeting (see WHO News Release On Geneva H5N1 Technical Meeting).
Lisa subsequently incorporated some of his comments in her article on the meeting Friday night (see WHO H5N1 study group extends moratorium, calls for full publication).
Rather than delay further, I’ll simply invite you to visit Dr. Sandman’s site to read:
The H5N1 Debate Needs Respectful Dialogue, Not “Education” or One-Sided Advocacy
by Peter M. Sandman
(a February 17, 2012 email to Lisa Schnirring of CIDRAP News )
Highly recommended.
