Skip Navigation


Public Health Ethics Advance Access originally published online on February 3, 2009
Public Health Ethics 2009 2(1):105-112; doi:10.1093/phe/php002
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
2/1/105    most recent
php002v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Faust, H. S.
Right arrow Articles by Upshur, R. E. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Faust, H. S.
Right arrow Articles by Upshur, R. E. G.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. Available online at www.phe.oxfordjournals.org

The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in the Ethical Aspects of Pandemic Flu Planning—Lessons Learned from the Toronto SARS Experience

Halley S. Faust

University of New Mexico and University of Toronto

Cécile M. Bensimon

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto and University of Toronto

Ross E. G. Upshur*

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Joint Centre for Bioethics University of Toronto, Toronto

* Corresponding author: Ross E. G. Upshur, Primary Care Research Unit, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, #E-349, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5. Tel.: 416-480-4753; Fax: 416-480-4536; Email: ross.upshur{at}sunnybrook.ca


  Abstract

Are restrictive measures and duties to care ethically reasonably acceptable to faith-based organizations? This study describes the perceptions of individually interviewed spiritual leaders of the disease control measures used during the recent SARS outbreak in Toronto. Four central themes were identified: the relationship between religious obligation and civic responsibilities; the role of faith-based organizations in supporting public health restrictive measures; the reciprocal obligations of public health and religious communities during restrictions; and justifiable limits to duties to care. We conclude that, within certain constraints, spiritual leaders find restrictive measures ethically reasonable and that spiritual leaders can play an important role during pandemic and epidemic control planning. Public health officials should therefore include them in the early and ongoing deliberations of the criteria and logistics for implementation during public health emergencies.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.