Question

Ethics of Quarantine, analyze the ethics of public health issues by discussing whether the use of quarantine in a given situation is consistent with ethical principles.

Answer 1

Quarantine is separation of exposed individuals who are not yet symptomatic for some period of time. This is done for two reasons - To stop transmission by reducing social circulation and for monitoring them for symptoms and directing them to treatment. Some feel that it is hindering personal liberty, while others see it as a requirement for disease control.

Two ethical questions which surround quarantine are - to distinguish between isolation and quarantine and to justify its effectiveness.

Quarantine is done in the moral obligation of not spreading the diseas to others.

It can be considered ethical, if it meets the four criteria-

1. If the disease is communicable and can be spread from one person to another.

2. Proportionality

3. Reciprocity. If certain individuals are quarantined for the good of society then its the duty of the society to help them to do their daily duties.

4. Transparency in the process. Public health authorities should be clear in actiins and transparent in their motives.

If only the above is met, use of quarantune can be considered ethical.