Opinion: Scientists’ Obligations During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Scientists can provide essential information to educate the public about the coronavirus.

Written byJohn D. Loike

| 3 min read

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John D. Loike, a Professor of Biology at Touro College and University Systems, writes a regular column on bioethics for The Scientist.

Since December 2019, the spread of a new coronavirus from Wuhan, China, across the globe has been a primary news focus. It is often unclear where the public gets its information, but all kinds of erroneous material has been circulating—including online discussions about conspiracy theories and whether the virus comes from drinking Corona beer or eating Chinese food. One news report quoted a man describing how he cured himself of this virus with an inhaler, hot whiskey, and honey. As scientists, we can disregard these discussions, but their insidious spread may lead to fear and poor choices.

I believe the scientific community has an ethical and social obligation to learn everything possible about this virus so that when asked about various circulating rumors, purported ...

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Meet the Author

John D. Loike
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John Loike serves as the interim director of bioethics at New York Medical College and as a professor of biology at Touro University. He served previously as the codirector for graduate studies in the Department of Physiology Cellular Biophysics and director of Special Programs in the Center for Bioethics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. His biomedical research focuses on how human white blood cells combat infections and cancer. Loike lectures internationally on emerging topics in bioethics, organizes international conferences, and has published more than 150 papers and abstracts in the areas of immunology, cancer, and bioethics. He earned his Ph.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.
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