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Building Belief Systems And Medical Ethics: The Covid-19 Controversies

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  • Gérard Mondello

    (UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur)

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic upset both the economies of most countries, but also the field of medical science. As never, public opinion has interfered in the choice of therapeutic trials as evidenced by the controversies surrounding protocols using hydroxychloroquine. The public's choice for these treatments is explained as the application of a kind of individual "Pascal's wager". This article analyses the formation of the belief system of individuals by applying ambiguity theory's insights and information entropy. It shows that the public's choices are the result of efficient communication strategies chosen by these treatments' promoters.

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  • Gérard Mondello, 2021. "Building Belief Systems And Medical Ethics: The Covid-19 Controversies," Working Papers halshs-03502609, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-03502609
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03502609
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Uncertainty Theory; Ambiguity; Pharmacy; Medicine JEL : I1; I18; I19; D81; L65;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics

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