Citation

Wynia MK, Gostin LO. Am. J. Public Health 2004; 94(7): 1096-1102.

Affiliation

Institute for Ethics, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL 60610, USA. matthew_wynia@ama-assn.org

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15226126

PMCID

PMC1448404

Abstract

Preparedness for bioterrorism poses significant ethical challenges. Although public health ethics and preparedness have received attention recently, health care ethics must also be considered. In epidemics, the health care system assists public health in 3 tasks: detection, containment, and treatment. Detection might fail if all patients do not have access to care, or if physicians do not understand their obligation to report infectious diseases to public health authorities. Containment might fail if physicians view themselves only as advocates for individual patients, ignoring their social obligations as health professionals. Treatment might fail if physicians do not accept their professional duty to treat patients during epidemics. Each of these potential ethical barriers to preparedness must be addressed by physicians and society.

Language: en