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Health Law and Policy

BLR

2007

Social Welfare

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Doomsday: A Look At The Ethical Issues Behind The Government's Coercive Powers In Response To A Public Health Nightmare., Jacob M. Chapman Jan 2007

Doomsday: A Look At The Ethical Issues Behind The Government's Coercive Powers In Response To A Public Health Nightmare., Jacob M. Chapman

ExpressO

This article posits a hypothetical scenario in which a deadly pandemic is unleashed upon the United States and the several individuals whom appear to have a natural immunity refuse to participate in necessary research. The article then examines the possible legal and ethical approaches available for reacting to the pandemic.

The hypothetical scenario addressed in this article highlights a gap in current public health law. While various states have laws and procedures relating to quarantine and forced inoculation, these laws and procedures do not suggest whether the state may or may not coerce non-threatening individuals into participating in potentially dangerous …