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Public health is constantly straddling the importance of individual rights and the good of the community.
In a pandemic, the choices often become more urgent and more difficult. A few key documents summarize the consensus on ethical public health actions in a pandemic. This guidance helps you find what these documents recommend. They are:
- The American Public Health Association, Public health code of ethics (2019)
- The World Health Organization, Guidance for Managing Ethical Issues in Infectious Disease Outbreaks (2016)
- The World Health Organization, Ethical considerations in developing a public health response to pandemic influenza (2007)
- The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethical guidelines in pandemic influenza (2007)
- Indiana University Center for Bioethics, Ethics Guide for health practitioners working under conditions of an influenza pandemic (2009)
- The University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics, Stand on Guard for Thee: Ethical considerations in preparedness planning for pandemic influenza (2005)
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Threats to Public Health at Every Angle
Epidemiologist, Katelyn Jetelina, writes an insightful and free-of-jargon explanation of the week’s developments in public health in her Substack column called Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE). In her March 28, 2025 issue, the anniversary of the beginning of the Covid pandemic, … Read more
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Pandemic Ethics and Nursing Practice: When Will We Learn?
“Both reason and emotions should be engaged in ethical decision-making. Situations and cases which reflect the complex, emotional, relational and cultural dimensions of ethics should be used or developed for pandemic ethics education.” In: Scott, PA and Scott SM. (Eds) … Read more