Fallacy
Jurassic Park
by Michael Crichton

Jurassic Park: Fallacy 1 key example

First Iteration: New York
Explanation and Analysis—Human Error:

In First Iteration: New York, Dr. Richard Stone sends Dr. Marty Guitierrez a memo stating that the basilisk sample has tested negative for any communicable diseases. Dramatic irony leads Guitierrez to draw false conclusions from the report, a fallacy that draws the reader's attention to the shortcomings of science and medicine:

Guitierrez made two assumptions based on the memo. First, that his identification of the lizard as a basilisk had been confirmed by scientists at Columbia University. And second, that the absence of communicable disease meant the recent episodes of sporadic lizard bites implied no serious health hazards for Costa Rica. On the contrary, he felt his original views were correct: that a lizard species had been driven from the forest into a new habitat, and was coming into contact with village people. Guitierrez was certain that in a few more weeks the lizards would settle down and the biting episodes would end.