On evidence fiascos and judgments in COVID-19 policy

Hist Philos Life Sci. 2021 Apr 16;43(2):61. doi: 10.1007/s40656-021-00410-w.

Abstract

Calls for evidence-based approaches to COVID-19 have sparked up discussions on the use of evidence for policy. In this note, we expand these discussions: while the debate has mostly focused on the types of evidence to be used for policy, we argue that the assessment of judgments involved in data practices and evidence production should play a central role in evaluating policy.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Evidence-based medicine; Philosophy of medicine.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • Communicable Disease Control / standards*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine / standards*
  • Humans
  • Judgment*
  • Policy*
  • SARS-CoV-2