On May 25, Irish voters repealed their constitution’s Eighth Amendment. In doing so, they endorsed false science, rejecting the fundamental knowledge of when a human life begins and the continuum of human life.

The decision to choose a convenient lie over an obvious truth is called denialism and it is powered by misinformation. False information about the biological science of human embryology is spreading more rapidly and pervasively than ever before. Considering the consequences, it represents a serious public health crisis. Ireland’s recent referendum illustrates the real-world impact that distorted or erroneous information can have on human lives.