Trusting Science: A Perspective on Our Response to COVID-19
/On a cool spring day eight years ago, I sat at an empty lab table after school completing extra dissections on a preserved cat. I carefully separated the delicate musculature of the cat’s paw, amazed. After learning about excitation-contraction coupling that day I imagined the muscle cells within the cat’s paws stretching and contracting with each step they were designed to take. I trusted the beauty and logic behind the science that made my understanding of this truth possible, and it was at this moment that I seriously considered a career in medicine and surgery. Throughout years of study I recognized the complexity of biology, chemistry and physics. I quickly realized that most of the general public was unfamiliar with the science and concepts that I consider basic. It is therefore understandable that in a time of global medical crisis such as COVID-19, complicated by uncertainty, the public has lost trust in scientists and physicians. The consequence of this is a rabid pandemic affecting a country that has a culture of mitigation rather than prevention.
During a crisis, when people ask questions they want clear answers. However, during medical school I learned that much of what we know in medicine is uncertain and fluctuating just as it is now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our projections of infection rates, fatalities, and duration of this outbreak are based on assumptions entered into different algorithms. The results vary depending on which algorithm is used. The scientific community understands that these numbers will change, but the public sees the numbers as absolute, growing frustrated when the projections don’t reflect reality. This has led to distrust of our world’s epidemiologists which could prove catastrophic.
This uncertainty is magnified by an epidemic of misinformation in the media. Recently, TV medical personalities like Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil appeared on popular programs sharing false information about COVID-19 and criticizing nationwide “lockdown” efforts. After intense backlash they have retracted their statements, which are in stark contrast to reliable sources such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and the CDC. Regardless, their words have widened the already gaping rift between the public and physicians. Other sources of misinformation are easily spread through social media by “click-bait” headlines, where the average person spends less than three seconds reading and analyzing news sources, according to Dr. Ed Simpson, Associate Professor of Journalism at Central Michigan University (CMU).
Furthermore, the fundamental culture of our nation’s healthcare system is primarily reactive rather than preventative. There are numerous reasons for this including cost of medical insurance and healthcare and low medical literacy, among other social determinants of health. Dr. Catherine Willermet, a Professor of Anthropology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work at CMU, explains that in countries where mathematics and science literacy rates are higher than in the United States, such as Germany and South Korea, we see a better response to COVID-19 efforts. In these countries the citizens and government leaders understand the importance of social distancing and freely available COVID-19 testing despite the impact on their economies.
Consequently, this culture has bled into disaster preparedness. Our nation simply does not have the resources available to handle a highly contagious respiratory virus such as COVID-19. This was brought to the public spotlight by the New York Times when it published the results of “Crimson Contagion”, a functional simulation exercise coordinated by The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which assessed the preparedness of U.S. resources, infrastructure and policies in response to a highly contagious and deadly influenza virus. The results predicted a dismal outcome comparable to the 1918 Spanish Flu. Public figures like Bill Gates spoke out openly on the issue several years ago on the heels of the Ebola and H7N9 influenza outbreaks, warning us of this impending doom. Instead of taking action to prevent a pandemic, we ignored the warning signs and let it happen.
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As I begin my new career as a physician, I am beginning to see why people don’t trust the science during COVID-19. It’s uncertain, complex, and beyond the understanding of some of our leaders. To fix this we must change our foundation and nurture the same love for science and medicine that I developed many years ago in that empty classroom. Only then will we recognize our shortcomings and take the necessary steps to promote health and well-being in our communities. We need to be prepared the next time a pandemic reaches our shores. Our survival depends on it.
