Australian Centre for Health Law Research
Science, Public Health, and Democracy - Distinguished University Professor Lawrence O. Gostin
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, science and public health are under sustained attack. Mis- and disinformation about health is rampant in social media and beyond, amplified by artificial intelligence. Populist governments in the United States and elsewhere perpetuate false health information, fueling anti-science beliefs ranging from vaccines and water fluoridation to raw milk. The United States has withdrawn from the World Health Organization, while drastically slashing funding for scientific research, global health, and foreign assistance. President Trump withdrew from negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and refused to adopt amendments to the International Health Regulations. All this tears at the fabric of global solidarity and justice. The impacts have been far reaching in areas ranging from HIV/AIDS and pathogen surveillance, through to childhood vaccines and the polio eradication campaign. WHO has slashed its own staff amidst savage budget cuts. GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance is facing major funding shortfalls. When truth is debatable and science is undermined, democracy is weakened. These same populist impulses have seen withering attacks not only on public health, but also freedom of the press, academic institutions, and free and fair elections. Robust institutions like the US CDC, FDA, and NIH are beginning to crack, with little check on the executive branch. While many countries look on in horror, they too may be just an election away from a populist movement taking political control. In this troubling era, it is vital to stand up for science, public health, and democracy itself. In this lecture, I will explain why the scientific method is misunderstood and why it is a singularly important way to advance human health and democratic values. I will explain why advancing the right to health is necessary for human flourishing and civic virtue. Liberal democracies are moving rapidly toward rigid individual autonomy and national sovereignty. Instead of asking, “what does government and society owe me as a rights bearing individual and my nation as a sovereign”, we need to ask another question. We need to ask what duties we owe to one another to ensure public health and wellbeing. What can I do for my family, my neighbors, my community and my world. A world built on equity and justice, and on global solidarity based on democratic values is a future worth fighting for. Perhaps another way to say all this is we must reject selfishness, indecency, and dishonesty, and embrace mutual obligations, compassion, and love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
