I just saw the Andromeda Strain the other night - it was just as good as many of you had said and for once it was nice to see a film where I didn't go "WHAT ABOUT INERTIA?!" and how typical humanity was almost damned by lousy government contractors.
Anyway, to my main point - I thought it was pretty hypocritical that the scientists comment that the notion of the woman keeping her epilepsy secret for fear of discrimination being a throwback to the Middle Ages - but this woman was very nearly directly responsible for spreading the andromeda strain TO THE WHOLE world. Obviously the message is that epileptics are lying and evil ;) Discuss.
No, it just shows the society in 1971. At that time she would have probably been unable to get a job as a researcher anywhere if the truth were known. Meds weren't as good back then and there was a stigma attached to any kind of brain ailment. Plus it shows the humanity of the character, her pride got in the way of her very important job.