Ciencia y Salud, Vol. 8, No. 2, abril-junio, 2024 • ISSN (impreso): 0378-7680 • ISSN (en línea): 2613-8751 • Sitio web: https://revistas.intec.edu.do/
EDITORIAL
THE CHALLENGE OF BIOETHICS AND SCIENCE IN THE POST-TRUTH ERA
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22206/cysa.2024.v8i2.3131
Manuel Colomé-Hidalgo, MD, PhD
Editor-in-Chief Ciencia & Salud
Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Dominican Republic
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4562-6491
Cómo citar: Colomé-Hidalgo M. (2024). Editorial. The challenges of bioetichs and science in the post-truth era. Ciencia y Salud, 8(2), 1. https://doi.org/10.22206/cysa.2024.v8i2.3131
"Post-truth" is a term that has gained relevance in contemporary discourse, referring to the situation in which objective facts have less influence on public opinion and social attitudes than emotional and ideological narratives1.
Science has been compromised in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and economic crisis was exacerbated by the infodemic of fake news and conspiracy theories surrounding the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, clinical treatments, vaccines, and related issues, having devastating effects on global public health response2. Post-truth threatens trust in science and critical thinking. Academic fraud, predatory journals, and fake news spread by groups through social media have greatly contributed to fostering public distrust in science3.
In the information age, where fake news and misinformation can spread faster than ever, society faces a colossal challenge: discerning between truth and falsehood. Amidst this crossroads, bioethics stands as a beacon of reason to guide our actions. Bioethics provides a solid ethical framework for addressing these issues reflectively and deliberately. In that sense, scientific ethics and integrity imply that researchers adopt behavior based on ethical principles throughout the research process, which encompasses the stages of planning, execution, and dissemination of research findings.
However, bioethics alone cannot counter the onslaught of post-truth. Fostering a culture of critical thinking and scientific literacy in schools from an early age is required so that people can question dogmatic claims and seek truth with intellectual rigor through the scientific method.
The media, political leaders, and public health professionals must work together to promote honesty, transparency, and scientific rigor in the dissemination of information. Public trust in science and institutions is an invaluable asset that must be protected and strengthened through responsible practices and clear, accurate communication.
References
1. Higgins K. Post-truth: a guide for the perplexed. Nature. 2016; 540(9). https://doi.org/10.1038/540009a
2. Nattrass N. Promoting conspiracy theory: From AIDS to COVID-19. Global public health. 2023; 18(1): e2172199. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2023.2172199
3. Heinrich S. Medical science faces the post-truth era: a plea for the grassroot values of science. Current opinion in anaesthesiology. 2020; 33(2): 198-202.