Celebrities Play Doctor
May 3, 2020
Before the coronavirus emerged to change the world, a scholar who studies media hype and medical misinformation described in Issues the untoward role that celebrities often play in shaping public attitudes about science and health. In a bit of déjà vu, he just told NPR that an array of public figures worldwide—including President Trump—are now making unfounded claims about ways to prevent or treat COVID-19. But in better news, he sees early evidence that many people are paying greater attention to real science and are rejecting erroneous advice.