The COVID pandemic presented us with highly consequential policy decisions, but also incomplete information to guide these decisions that affected the global population. How did policymakers use and sometimes misuse science to make decisions for their institutions and the public? How did ethical principles in science (e.g., minimizing harms and maximizing benefits; respecting human dignity and autonomy; taking special precautions with vulnerable populations; and distributing benefits and risks fairly) conflict and inform decision-making?