Regulatory Science: Risk and Decisions

Regulatory decisions usually are made in the face of considerable uncertainty and debate. Predictions of risk are uncertain. Stakeholder groups come to the debate with different estimates of the risk. There are differences of opinion as to the goals of regulation, how uncertainty is to be incorporated into decisions, or how non-health goals (such as cost) are to be reflected in the choice of policy. While some of these issues require methods and facts mastered by technical experts, many are matters of societal judgment requiring insights into politics, law, ethics, etc.