Introduction There are currently 40 emerging infectious diseases, that are at risk of spreading from country to country, due to the increase of people traveling. Diseases like Ebola and the Zika virus pose a global threat due to the possible rapid rate of transmission from human-to-human, that occurs with exposure to someone who is symptomatic and seropositive (World Health Organization, 2016-a). When there is an infectious disease breakout, public health practitioners and physicians, must make quick decisions regarding isolation of a patient exhibiting symptoms and using quarantine for those who have been exposed to someone symptomatic or seropositive. Although, a public health framework is followed to make the decisions for isolation and …show more content…
In medical ethics, when making decisions, the question is asked, “Does the benefit of quarantine outweigh the consequence to public health if quarantine was not chosen?” (Reed, 2015). The guiding principles, that lead to this conclusion, are the medical ethics: autonomy, beneficence, and justice. According to Kominski (2013) medical ethics, in regard to autonomy, are concerned with a patient’s personal privacy and liberty, freedom of choice, and self-control in their free will. Translated to the field of public health, this means the above are entitled to a person as long as they do not bring harm to others. Beneficence, and medical ethics is defined as bringing no harm while promoting the welfare of others. In public health, in means the general goal of health policy and practice when overseeing the welfare of society when considering the rights of others. And in terms of Justice, the focus is on equity, whether it be access to a service or benefits derived from, it is the sole premise of public health. When making a decision then, to isolate or quarantine, public health and medical practitioners aim to find a net health benefit, one that fits everyone best (Reed, 2015). However, while the net health benefit considers both, the individual(s) and the community, it does not consider post-isolation or quarantine, in regard to the after effects, specifically the one of
Alan Goldman argues that medical paternalism is unjustified except in very rare cases. He states that disregarding patient autonomy, forcing patients to undergo procedures, and withholding important information regarding diagnoses and medical procedures is morally wrong. Goldman argues that it is more important to allow patients to have the ability to make autonomous decisions with their health and what treatment options if any they want to pursue. He argues that medical professionals must respect patient autonomy regardless of the results that may or may not be beneficial to a patient’s health. I will both offer an objection and support Goldman’s argument. I will
However due to globalization, import and export viruses is more easily transmitted. Over the past century the global community especially Asian has been affected with new strains of the influenza virus. The changes in the virus can occur in two ways “antigenic drift” which are gradual changes in the virus over time. This change produces new strains that the antibody may not recognize. “Antigenic shift” On the other is a sudden change in the influenza virus which ‘’ results in a new influenza A subtype or a virus with a hemagglutinin or a hemagglutinin and neuraminidase combination that has emerged from an animal population,” as seen with H5N1 virus. This change leaves people defenseless against this new virus. (CDC, 2013) Currently there is no vaccine to combat all strains therefore “Planning and preparedness for implementing mitigation strategies during a pandemic requires participation by all levels o...
Within public health, the issue of paternalism has become a controversial topic. Questions about the ethics of public health are being asked. The role of ethics in medical practice is now receiving close scrutiny, so it is timely that ethical concepts, such as autonomy and paternalism, be re-examined in their applied context (Med J Aust. 1994). Clinically, patients are treated on a one on one basis, but public health’s obligation is toward the protection and promotion of an entire population’s health. So, based on this difference, the gaping questions targeting public health now becomes, under what conditions is it right to intervene and override an individuals’ autonomy?
The word ethics is derived from the Greek word ‘ethos’ meaning character or conduct. It is typically used interchangeably with word moral which is derived from the Latin word ‘moves’ which means customs or habits. Ethics refers to conduct, character and motivations involved in moral acts. Ethics are not imposed by a profession, by law but by moral obligation. It is unwritten code of conduct that encompasses both professional conduct and judgement. Ethics helps support autonomy and self-determination, protect the vulnerable and promotes the welfare and equality of human beings. An ethical dentist- patient relationship is based on trust, honesty, confidentiality, privacy and the quality of care.1
This respect gives the individual in question the right to essentially make their own decision in any given situation. Unfortunately not all individuals have the correct information or education on the topic to make the appropriate choice. The other issue with autonomy in regards to quarantine is that the individual is only thinking of themselves and not the people around them and how the decision they make may or may not affect them. In the film, The most dangerous woman in america, Mary Mallon was given a few opportunities to play a part in her initial testing and plan of care. Even in the end when respectively entrusted by the Commissioner of Health for New York City to change occupations and avoid spreading typhoid fever she made the decision that best suited
International public health policies attempt to reform the social and political systems which influence the health and safety of all citizens of the world. In the past, these policies have been created through the strong reliance on and exploitation of socially constructed systems of classification such as gender, sexuality, nationality, and economic class. It has been a system of correlation between the behaviors which seem prevalent within social groupings and chances that those behaviors will lead to disease transmition or infestation. In January 2004, the World Health Organization announced a radical change in their policies surrounding public health study and prevention in the 2004 World Report on violence and health. Instead of focusing on larger global and national trends, the WHO called for an expansion of policies and increase of resources which focused more on the experiences and support of individuals rather than groups. This value of individual experience holds extreme promise in the expansion and effectiveness of public health initiatives as well has changes many societal systems of classifications. However, there may be detrimental effects of this change that exploit the very subjects that they attempt to help. It is a question of forcing the private experience of disease into a public domain. Where are the lines of public verses private drawn?
Many states and colonies across the globe issued detailed sets of directives to their residents on what exactly they should do if they come into contact with the illness. One such example is the directive issued by T.W.H. Holmes, the Secretary of the Victoria Board of Public Health in Australia. The directive details the symptoms, complications, treatment, and prevention of the disease. Something very common during the outbreak of any pandemic is the use of quarantines to separate the sick and the healthy. In fact, that is the first order for prevention of disease in T.W.H. Holme...
... only provide patients who are sick a way out, but can keep hospitals from prolonging a patient’s life.
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political, and bioethical reasoning. Inside these connections, it is the limit of a sound individual to make an educated, unpressured decision. Patient autonomy can conflict with clinician autonomy and, in such a clash of values, it is not obvious which should prevail. (Lantos, Matlock & Wendler, 2011). In order to gain informed consent, a patient
Ethics in the medical field are very important and should be taken seriously. As a medical professional you will tested daily on making the best choices, using good judgment and being morally responsible for your actions. There are nine principles in the Code of Medical Ethics that in general make up the primary code. As a medical professional you must always consider what is in the best interest of the patient. Code of medical ethics of the American Medical Association, (2012). When determining the proper “Patient-Physician Relationship, the relationship between the patient and physician is based on trust and gives rise to the physicians’ ethical obligations to place a patients’ welfare above their own self-interest” Code of medical ethics of the American Medical Association, (2012).
The movie ‘Contagion’ was released in 2011 depicting the dramatization of a world-wide pandemic of a virus strain killing millions of people in just a matter of months. The movie brought memories as to how global pandemics such as the swine flu were handled a few years back. The movie demonstrated how health professionals would react to a large-scale spread of an unknown virus. During the movie, several epidemiological concepts were addressed. The influential work of epidemiologists and the on-site ground work they have to go through in order to achieve their goal was perceived to be accurate throughout the movie.
The Zika virus epidemic continues to endanger the lives of many, but the lives that are in danger may not be the ones you would expect.
Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiological Investigation - Ensure adequate and accurate diagnosis and reporting of Zika cases to monitor epidemiologic trends in distribution, transmission, and severity; to inform prevention and control efforts; and to identify cases or clusters that require follow-up or intervention.
Physician-assisted suicide refers to the physician acting indirectly in the death of the patient -- providing the means for death. The ethics of PAS is a continually debated topic. The range of arguments in support and opposition of PAS are vast. Justice, compassion, the moral irrelevance of the difference between killing and letting die, individual liberty are many arguments for PAS. The distinction between killing and letting die, sanctity of life, "do no harm" principle of medicine, and the potential for abuse are some of the arguments in favor of making PAS illegal. However, self-determination, and ultimately respect for autonomy are relied on heavily as principle arguments in the PAS issue.
...ary 2014)”. The Ebola epidemic helps remind the U.S. That other nations are there to work with them, and unite to prevent a rapid growing disease. CDC partners with programs from other nations, such as the Global Disease Detection Centers, and the Field Epidemiology Training Program, which work to stop the Ebola virus. Information systems will grow stronger, more partnerships dedicated to stopping outbreaks will be formed and laboratory security will also grow. The writer of the paper cannot agree more to this.