You are a member of an IRB that is reviewing a diagnostic study for a new viral disease, PVD, that, in exactly 50% of those infected, causes Polaiteir dementia. The PVD virus has infected the entire population. Dementia does not evidence itself until age 70. If detected before age 30, it can be treated successfully. The experimental test is believed to be 100% accurate in identifying who will get dementia. However, it has the unique “quantum” effect of flipping the medical condition of the person tested. A person who would not have gotten dementia will leave the test and later get dementia, and vice versa. In other words, the test itself will cure 50% of those tested, and give dementia to the other 50%. The test can be taken only once. In either case, study participants will learn whether they have the condition, and can then plan their lives accordingly. In addition, results from the study will tell the researchers how to end the quantum flipping effect. Read more