Guidance for managing ethical issues in infectious disease outbreaks

Infectious disease outbreaks are frequently characterized by scientific uncertainty, social and institutional disruption, and an overall climate of fear and distrust. Invariably, the countries most affected by outbreaks have limited resources, under-developed legal and regulatory structures, and health systems that lack the resilience to deal with crisis situations. Policy-makers and public health professionals may be forced to weigh and prioritize potentially competing ethical values in the face of severe time and resource constraints. This document seeks to assist policy-makers, health care providers, researchers, and others getting ready for outbreak situations by anticipating and preparing for the critical ethical issues likely to arise. In addition to setting forth ethical principles applicable to infectious disease outbreaks, it shows how these principles can be adapted to different epidemiological and social circumstances.