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Chapter Eight: Ethical Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2020

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Abstract

Ethical questions and dilemmas associated with disasters and their management are numerous and are compounded when international assistance is involved. This Chapter is intended to raise awareness and promote important and ever-relevant discussions; it is not a treatise on ethics. It discusses the issues associated with human rights and obligations and identifies important aspects of international law associated with such issues, hazard exportation, the right to know, needs assessments, as well as aid and assistance. Issues raised by the actions and policies of relief organizations, those associated with actions of the media, and those associated with the competence of the responding individuals and organizations also are examined. Triage and other forms of rationing of medical care create additional dilemmas that are discussed. Lastly, the problems associated with disaster research and application of the Helsinki Declaration are explored.

Keywords

competencedilemmasethicsevaluationGeneva ConventionshazardsHague ConventionsHelsinki DeclarationInternational Humanitarian Lawissuesmediaresearchright to knowrights, humantriageUN Charter
Type
Conceptual Framework
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 17 , Issue S3: Health Disaster Management: Guidelines for Evaluation and Research in the “Utstein Style” , December 2002 , pp. 128 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2002

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