Ethics of Disaster Preparedness

The State Expert Panel on the Ethics of Disaster Preparedness has produced a series of six brochures to help health care organizations and their staff to have a greater awareness of the ethical issues that will arise during a disaster and also more realistic expectations of what to expect from the healthcare system in a disaster. The brochure series includes:

  1. Ethics of Health Care Disaster Preparedness -
    This brochure is intended for all persons/functions at each health care organization (this is a common document that should be read by all persons).
  2. Ethical Responsibilities of Health Care Leadership -
    This brochure is intended for Senior Management and the Board of Directors
  3. Ethical Responsibilities of Health Care Professionals -
    This brochure is intended for Directors, Managers, Supervisors and their staff
  4. Ethical Responsibilities of Federal, State and Local Government -
    This brochure is intended for local, state and federal legislators. The Wisconsin Hospital Association will be distributing this brochure to all state and federal legislators.
  5. Ethical Responsibilities of Health Care Vendors -
    This brochure is intended for vendors that supply and equip health care. A special mailing will be sent to all Materials Management Directors about this brochure.
  6. Guidelines for the Triage of Patients -
    This brochure is intended for clinicians, especially for the members of the Clinical Review Committee (see brochure for details about this committee)

Phase I: The State Expert Panel encourages discussion of the ethical responsibilities in each brochure among leaders and staff of health care organizations, leading to the achievement of the Desired Outcomes as listed in each brochure.

The Panel encourages your organization to report on any Desired Outcomes achieved by sending these Outcomes to dhsethics@dhs.wisconsin.gov. These Desired Outcomes will then be aggregated and shared with all health care organizations. All reports of the Desired Outcomes achieved should be sent to this email address no later than December 31, 2008.

Additional copies of these brochures can be obtained by downloading them at www.pandemic.wisconsin.gov and also www.wha.org or you can receive hardcopies by emailing dhsethics@dhs.wisconsin.gov. You will then receive instructions on how to obtain additional hardcopies of these brochures.

Phase II: The State Expert Panel in collaboration with public health authorities will facilitate discussions among leaders of community advocacy groups

  1. To allow them to provide feedback about the issues discussed in the brochure series
  2. To determine the key messages about the ethics of disaster preparedness that their constituents need to know
  3. To determine the best methodologies to communicate these key messages to their constituents.

Phase III: The State Expert Panel in collaboration with public health authorities will communicate key messages to the general public.

There is also a form by which your facilities may order additional copies of these brochures at no cost.