Silva HM. Reckoning with COVID-19 denial: Brazil's exemplary model for global response. World J Methodol 2024; 14(3): 92512 [PMID: 39310230 DOI: 10.5662/wjm.v14.i3.92512]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Heslley Machado Silva, PhD, Postdoc, Professor, Department of Science and Education, University Center of Formiga and State University of Minas Gerais, Av Doutor Arnaldo Sena 328, Minas Gerais 35570000, Brazil. heslley@uniformg.edu.br
Research Domain of This Article
Health Policy & Services
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Methodol. Sep 20, 2024; 14(3): 92512 Published online Sep 20, 2024. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v14.i3.92512
Reckoning with COVID-19 denial: Brazil's exemplary model for global response
Heslley Machado Silva
Heslley Machado Silva, Department of Science and Education, University Center of Formiga and State University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais 35570000, Brazil
Author contributions: The author took part in all stages of the text's development, conception and writing.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declares no conflict-of-interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Heslley Machado Silva, PhD, Postdoc, Professor, Department of Science and Education, University Center of Formiga and State University of Minas Gerais, Av Doutor Arnaldo Sena 328, Minas Gerais 35570000, Brazil. heslley@uniformg.edu.br
Received: January 28, 2024 Revised: February 15, 2024 Accepted: May 8, 2024 Published online: September 20, 2024 Processing time: 148 Days and 21.6 Hours
Abstract
In the aftermath of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Brazil, accountability is crucial for those who denied the severity of the virus, spreading false information and causing harm. Some individuals have already faced legal proceedings against them, revealing economic motivations behind their actions. It is equally important to hold doctors accountable for prescribing ineffective treatments, putting the population at risk. The leaders of the denial movement and the federal government, who mishandled the pandemic, should be held accountable for the high death toll. Seeking justice from the legislative and executive branches is necessary, along with exemplary measures for those who spread misinformation about COVID-19.
Core Tip: Amidst the tumultuous landscape of misinformation during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a Federal Court in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has set a precedent by holding a group of doctors advocating unproven early treatments accountable for collective moral and health damages. The decision underscores the imperative to address the dissemination of false scientific information, emphasizing the need to prosecute not only medical practitioners but also those who exploit their social respectability to fuel anti-vaccine movements. The unfolding legal actions signal a critical juncture for justice and accountability, prompting reflection on the broader repercussions of scientific denialism on public health.
