Withholding information still causes ‘public relations nightmare’

It’s been two weeks since that latest news concerning Bucks and Montgomery County water contamination, and I’m bothered still about the “nightmare” statement.

Was the limited account given the right action because it shielded us from the storm of a widespread panic? Or was it ethically and legally wrong to withhold the full truth? I’m troubled by the case. Here’s the background. Toxins found in water supplies near military bases in Horsham, Warrington and Warminster townships are more harmful to humans than the federal government previously had reported, according to a report released two weeks ago. The government withheld the full data, it said, to avoid a “public relations nightmare.” Was that the right thing to do because it may have saved us from widespread panic? Or was it wrong to hold back information the public has a right and a need to know? Can withholding information from a patient ever be legally and ethically defended?

The full story is this: the risk level of chemicals found in the water is seven to 10 times greater than what had been reported by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the new study said. And about a month ago, there had been reports the EPA and the White House sought to withhold the full data to avoid a “public relations nightmare.”

Chemicals found in water supplies near the military bases were involved in fighting fires at the bases, and their presence was known since 2014. They’ve been linked to a variety of health concerns.

Let’s think over this case. Were the EPA and White House accurate about the nightmare fear and therefore holding back information was the greatest means to handle the potentially fiery data? It’s easy to imagine that upon receipt of the full numbers, public distress would explode and result in lawsuits instead of curative measures. So partial release of the results would be the top way to slowly inform the public, they might have thought. You know, don’t lie but don’t tell the whole truth.

But that careful approach would work only for a short time. Once the full truth was revealed, there’d be a horrendous response from those affected — a public relations nightmare more terrifying than imagined. The best way to handle this case? Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.