The H1N1 influenza of 2009 heightened the public’s awareness of the dangers of a flu pandemic. Along with the public health threat, a flu pandemic presents ethical challenges as well. The NCIOM convened the Task Force on Ethics and Pandemic Influenza Planning in 2006 to weigh different ethical considerations in developing an ethical framework to help guide public and private decision making during a pandemic, including the need to ensure accountability, equitable treatment among similarly situated individuals, proportionality of actions, and inclusiveness and timeliness in decision making. This report details the ethical framework developed by the task force. NCIOM Task Force on Ethics and Pandemic Influenza Planning
The H1N1 influenza of 2009 heightened the public’s awareness of the dangers of a flu pandemic. Along with the public health threat, a flu pandemic presents ethical challenges as well. The NCIOM convened the Task Force on Ethics and Pandemic Influenza Planning in 2006 to weigh different ethical considerations in developing an ethical framework to help guide public and private decision making during a pandemic, including the need to ensure accountability, equitable treatment among similarly situated individuals, proportionality of actions, and inclusiveness and timeliness in decision making. This report details the ethical framework developed by the task force.