Pandemic Influenza Planning: An Extraordinary Ethical Dilemma for Local Government Officials

摘要

The possibility of a major influenza pandemic occurring within the next two decades is real. Therefore, adequate local government preparation for this global threat is crucial. The federal government provides broad guidelines for the state and local officials who are responsible for emergency response and lifesaving medical services, such as that for vaccination and antiviral use. But most local influenza pandemic preparedness is uncertain, inchoate, and even haphazard. Such government actions are also fraught with unprecedented legal and ethical implications. This study evaluates the pandemic influenza policies of eight large U.S. cities to determine how effectively the Department of Health and Human Services recommendations are addressed within their pandemic preparedness plans. The results: Several key aspects of these state guidelines remain vague and demonstrate limited input from local stakeholders.