Ethical Issues Relating to Contagious Disease Control. (360G-Wellcome-080191_Z_06_Z)

Title of meeting: Ethical Issues Relating to Contagious Disease Control Key issues to be discussed will focus around two core themes as follows: 1. Contagious diseases: possible barriers to effective control Given recent outbreaks of SARS, avian flu, and the possibility of an influenza pandemic, it is of utmost importance to reflect on the effectiveness and justification of outbreak management policies and protocols. Speakers from different cultural contexts will briefly present specific examples of outbreaks and focus on cultural or social barriers to effective disease control that actually did occur or that are likely to arise in the future. Examples of such barriers might be: strict rules of respect for privacy or autonomy; fear of stigmatisation; shame (e.g. for apparently failed control); lack of trust; lack of preparation; priority given to family obligations over professional obligations etc. Speakers will be invited to outline their experience of these issues, particularly in relation to SARS. For this reason, participants will be sought from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines and Canada (the worst affected countries in relation to SARS). 2. Freedom limiting measures for contagious diseases control: moral controversies and justifications We propose to have several short presentations by commentators from around the world focusing on specific controversial features of a national policy or protocol. Examples are: mandatory isolation or quarantine procedures; compulsory vaccination or treatment; allocation procedures for scarce vaccine or antiviral drugs. Each presentation will be followed by in-depth discussion of possible justifications or problems with the particular intervention. These talks will be presented mainly by experts in ethics and law from around the world, building upon the actual experiences as relayed in the first part of the seminar.