AMA Journal of Ethics^®

Trust is a social condition that positions science to beneficially contribute to democratic societies.

Spread of health misinformation by health professionals who also hold government positions represents a long-standing problem exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clinicians using governing authority to make public health policy are ethically obliged to draw upon scientific and clinical information that accords professional standards.

Professor Wendy E. Parmet joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Dr Claudia E. Haupt: “Holding Clinicians in Public Office Accountable to Professional Standards.”

Misinformation is an urgent new problem, so health professions communities need solutions as much as they need to be wary of ethical pitfalls of rushed interventions.

When regulatory decisions express overconfidence, one risk is that the costliness or misinformation will exacerbate health inequity.

Dr Isabelle Freiling joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Nicole M. Krause and Dr Dietram A. Scheufele: “Science and Ethics of ‘Curing’ Misinformation.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinician policy makers have faced unprecedented challenges to their roles in governance.

Dr Daphne Mlachila joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article: “How Should Clinicians and Researchers in Government Respond to Threats to Their Offices?”

Label analysis is key to educating patients about risks of vitamin A-containing supplements.