Apart from risk to individuals, hype could also cause backlash effect for legitimate treatment.
E.U. officials are concerned that this could cause a backlash by Irish voters.
Its own Islamic militants have close connections to Afghanistan's mullahs, and American military action could cause a backlash inside Pakistan.
Democrats counter that the attacks are highly risky and could cause a backlash against Mr. Bush, diminishing his stature as president.
When the suit against Proposition 8, the initiative that banned gay marriage in California, was filed in 2009, opponents argued that it was too soon and that a court decision favoring gay rights could cause a backlash.
Media regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into whether the BBC took due care of the welfare of the child because he was identifiable and his remarks could cause a backlash.
With just 12.5% of UK board positions currently held by women, and a strong prevailing sentiment against positive discrimination, a Brussels-imposed gender quota could cause a backlash similar to the one that has greeted prisoners' votes.
Nidal Malik Hasan, accused of killing 12 fellow soldiers and one civilian and wounding dozens of others in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, could "cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers".
Even as some researchers hailed the onset of clinical trials, others expressed trepidation that if the therapy proves unsafe — or even if it is safe but does not work — it could cause a backlash that would set the field back for years.
