Law, Medicine and Health Care

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Session Type: Section Programs

Session Capacity: N/A

Location: Hilton New Orleans Riverside

Room: Grand Salon Section 16

Floor: First Floor

Healthcare has long depended on scientific and medical expertise. In recent years, however, the United States has witnessed a rise in the popular rejection of healthcare and other scientific expertise. This is a complex phenomenon driven by a mix of cognitive biases, historical mistrust of the healthcare system, and deeply held individual beliefs. It can manifest as skepticism towards established medical practices, a preference for alternative therapies, or a denial of the need for professional medical care. This trend reached a new inflection point under the Trump administration, which significantly reshaped federal healthcare policy and regulatory frameworks in less than a year. Under the banner of "Make America Healthy Again," a series of appointments and executive actions led to a rapid transformation of long-standing protocols around healthcare research, drug development, and regulatory oversight. During this time, many of the public statements and policy decisions by the Trump administration were arguably made based on inaccurate or completely false data and information. This panel brings together health law scholars to examine the decline of expertise in U.S. healthcare policy. Topics will include vaccine skepticism, drug use, FDA approval processes, innovation and research funding, and disability policy.