Public health ethics
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2026
Analyzing freedom: Understanding swiss COVID-19 narratives through NLP analysis
Background Beyond the public health challenges it posed, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of public discourses, particularly regarding moral key terms such as freedom. Understanding how these terms, including…
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Moral contentions in the COVID-19 discourses: a qualitative content analysis of Moral Key Terms in Swiss public discourses
Moral Key Terms (MKTs) have been used in public discourses to challenge or support efforts to manage COVID-19. We developed four themes that illustrate this through a theory-driven qualitative content…
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Perceptions of Proportionality
The principle of proportionality is enshrined in Swiss law to ensure that the fundamental human rights guaranteed by the constitution cannot be abusively restricted in cases in which the overriding…
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Why ethics in social listening and infodemic management matters for public health
In a time where mis/disinformation continues to shape public discourse and influence policy decisions, the need for effective and ethical infodemic management has never been more pressing. In this context,…
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Trump’s statements about acetaminophen and the problem of epistemic corrections
Public reactions to Trump’s claims linking prenatal acetaminophen use to autism highlight the importance of distinguishing between falsehood and the absence of methodological justification. While current evidence does not establish…
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2025
Perceptions and Misconceptions of PSA Screening in Switzerland: A Preference Epidemiology Study
PSA screening for prostate cancer remains controversial due to the trade-offs between potential benefits and harms, particularly overdiagnosis and overtreatment. This study applies a preference epidemiology approach to explore how…
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Healthcare resource allocation for rare diseases: an exploratory survey of Swiss citizens’ preferences
OBJECTIVE: This study explores how Swiss citizens prioritise healthcare resource allocation for rare diseases, considering variables such as disease rarity, treatment cost, patient age and treatment outcomes. METHODS: We conducted…
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Introducing Preference Epidemiology: Improving Patient-Centered Approaches in Health Decision-Making
Preference epidemiology is an emerging field that examines how individual values, preferences, and perceptions influence health-related choices, particularly in contexts involving complex trade-offs between benefits, burdens, risks and harms. This…
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Digital Democracy and Emergency Preparedness: Engaging the Public in Public Health
The intersection of digital technology and democratic processes presents a transformative avenue for enhancing public health responses during health emergencies. This special issue, titled “Digital Democracy and Emergency Preparedness: Engaging…
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2024
The Dual Nature of AI in Information Dissemination: Ethical Considerations
Infodemics pose significant dangers to public health and to the societal fabric, as the spread of misinformation can have far-reaching consequences. While artificial intelligence (AI) systems have the potential to…