explain the social and economic impact of directing funds to medical research?

Answer 1

Often research on a complex medical problem (specific cancers) includes experimenting to find a cure. The problem with this is the experimentation process is more like a gamble and the overall impact or success is uncertain. For a compex medical problem thousands of trial experiments must be made costing billions. If we are to decide to direct billions to a medical cause we have to determine what percentage of the population will be effected by the problem in question. In the case of some specific cancers only a few thousand individuals are estimated to contract them so the government must decide if we should spend millions on a risky med. research plan with a probable small impact or on something with a larger scope like nat'l defense.

Answer 2

Illness and death aren't fun. They also cost-BIG. For each day of work spared from absence BILLIONS of bucks are spare for both, employers and the employed alike. Death costs astonomically even more! Employers have to spend tons hunting, replacing and retraining new folk. Invaluable knowledge is even lost completely! The income of the survivors is dramatically reduced, too. This can change the fortunes of the entire family: college may be out of the picture for some; mothers may have to go to work or work more, thus effecting the welfare of the kids; and on and on.
Fund toward med. research could offset these terrible losses to people and society at large.