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Medicines and Risk/Benefit Decisions pp 23–41Cite as

Perception of risk

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Part of the book series: CMR Workshop Series ((CMRWS))

Abstract

The public’s perceptions of risk might be epitomized by the trick question that was popular when I was about 8 or 9 years old: which is heavier, a pound of feathers or a pound of lead? It is a question that loses its trick character after one has digested the basic idea of weights and measures, but is a distinct challenge to a mind that is in transition from ignorance to the understanding of these fundamentals.

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Authors
  1. Dr J. Urquhart
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Carshalton, Surrey, UK

    Stuart R Walker (Director of the Centre for Medicines Research) (Director of the Centre for Medicines Research)

  2. University of Wales College of Medicine Royal Infirmary, Cardiff, UK

    A William Asscher (Professor of Renal Medicine) (Professor of Renal Medicine)

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© 1987 MTP Press Limited

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Urquhart, J. (1987). Perception of risk. In: Walker, S.R., Asscher, A.W. (eds) Medicines and Risk/Benefit Decisions. CMR Workshop Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3221-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3221-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7946-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3221-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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