Ethical Guidelines Documents

Ethical Guidelines in Pandemic Influenza

As part of its planning for a possible outbreak of pandemic influenza, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked with the Ethics Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee to the Director, CDC to identify ethical considerations relevant to public health decision-making during planning for and responding to pandemic influenza. 

CDC requested that the Ethics Subcommittee provide input on ethical considerations in vaccine and anti-viral drug distribution prioritization and in the development of interventions that would limit individual freedom and create social distancing.   The resulting document, Ethical Guidelines in Pandemic Influenza (PDF, 111 KB), provides guidance that the Ethics Subcommittee proposes serve as a foundation for ethical decision making for pandemic influenza.  We recognize the importance of having ethical perspectives provide practical assistance to those involved in the pandemic influenza planning and response process. Thus, we welcome your input on this document. 

Based on information in the Ethical Guidelines, CDC developed the following fact sheet and checklist to summarize ethical issues relevant to pandemic influenza.
Pandemic Influenza Ethics Fact Sheet (DOC - 63Kb) - March 15, 2007
Pandemic Influenza Ethics Checklist (DOC - 52Kb) - March 15, 2007

Stockpiling Antivirals For Pandemic Influenza: The Key Ethical Principles

Stockpiling Antiviral Drugs for Pandemic Influenza: The Key Ethical Principles (DOC - 59 Kb)
Prepared by Ethics Subcommittee of The Advisory Committee to the Director, CDC November 28, 2007