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Diverging Facts and Values

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The Covid-19 Pandemic and Global Bioethics

Part of the book series: Advancing Global Bioethics ((AGBIO,volume 18))

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Abstract

This chapter analyzes the resurgence of Covid infections since the second half of 2020. Many countries again are not sufficiently prepared for new waves of the pandemic. While most policy-makers emphasize that their decisions are based on scientific evidence, the fundamental problem is that evidence about effective policy measures is insufficient. Policy decisions need to be taken in a context of uncertainty and unknown risks. Major controversies exist regarding the origin and characteristics of the virus, symptomatology, infectiousness, transmission, distancing, masking, immunity, vulnerability, and the role of animals. In all these cases, scientific facts are lacking, weak, questionable, or contested so that in practice policy decisions are based on value judgments. Interpreting the available evidence and proposing what should be done often involves an ethical point of view.

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  1. Department of Bioethics, Anahuac University, Mexico City, Mexico

    Henk ten Have

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ten Have, H. (2022). Diverging Facts and Values. In: The Covid-19 Pandemic and Global Bioethics. Advancing Global Bioethics, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91491-2_5

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