Editor's Note: This original article is highlighted at the beginning o
f Volume 2 in an effort to challenge those in health, medicine and com
munication fields to question assumptions and offer empirical, ethical
and reasoned arguments for heuristic, ontologic, and epistomologic va
lue. This article was successful in initial peer review with three edi
torial board members in agreement. The editor welcomes responses in wr
itten format to appear in future issues. Please submit responses by ma
il to Journal of Health Communication, 100 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 0
2116, USA, or E-mail: JHC@ Emerson.edu.