The Ethical, Legal and Social Issues of Pandemics: An Analysis from the EU Perspective

Foreword
This Time Is Different? A New Book on the Ethical, Legal and Social Issues of Pandemics
Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
Chapter 1: Confinement, Isolation and Tracking
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Mitigation and Eradication: The Facts
1.2.1 Introduction
1.2.2 The Economic Cost
1.2.3 Health Costs
1.2.4 Costs for Minors
1.3 Ethical, Legal, Political Analysis
1.4 Test, Isolation and Adherence
1.5 Technology to Our Aid: Geospatial Data as a Response Tool
1.5.1 Introduction
1.5.2 The Use of Location Data and in the EU Context
1.5.3 Proximity Data
1.5.4 Tagging Venues
References
Chapter 2: Immunity Certificates: The New Frontier
2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 Definition and Typologies of Health Certificates
2.2 Certificates of Immunity in the Absence of Vaccinations or Diagnostic Tests
2.2.1 The Question of Scientific Certainty
2.2.2 The Privilege
2.2.3 The Promotion of Inappropriate Behaviour (Voluntary Contagion)
2.2.4 Public Order Problems
2.2.5 Concluding Remarks
2.3 Health Certificates When Vaccines and/or Screening Tests Are Already Available to the General Population
2.3.1 Introduction
2.3.2 The Discrimination Argument
2.3.3 The Equity Problem
2.3.4 The Proportionality of the Measure
2.3.5 Other Considerations: The Possibility of Counterfeiting and Fraud
2.4 The Issue of Personal Data
2.5 Organic Disability: Privileges for the Vulnerable?
References
Chapter 3: Vaccines (I): Creation and Distribution
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Clinical Trials and Their Alternatives
3.2.1 Introduction: Clinical Trials in Times of Pandemic
3.2.2 Placebo Groups and Approved Vaccines
3.2.3 Challenge Studies or Exposure Studies
3.3 Patents and Other Intellectual Property Rights (Data Rights/Industrial Secrecy)
3.3.1 Introduction
3.3.2 The Legal Regime of Intellectual Property: An Overview
3.3.3 Other Forms of Industrial Property Protection: Data and the 8 + 2 + 1 Rule
3.3.4 The Introduction of Waivers on Intellectual Property-Related Rights
3.3.5 Licences and Suspensions: The Arguments
3.3.6 Concluding Remarks: Pros and Cons of the Different Options and Difficulties Underlying Any of Them
3.4 The Question of Distribution: Vulnerability and Imminence of the Risk
3.4.1 The Distribution of Vaccines Between Countries: Equity and Utility
3.4.2 The Distribution of Vaccines Between Countries: Where Are They Most Needed First?
References
Chapter 4: Vaccination (II): Vaccination Policies
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Compulsory (or Not) Nature of Vaccines: Questions of Morality
4.2.1 Compulsory Nature “For Your Own Good”: The Seat Belt Analogy
4.2.2 Compulsory Nature as a Way of Breaking the Chains of Contagion
4.2.3 Mandatory Nature as a Way to Save Public Resources
4.2.4 Moral Consideration of the Obligatory Nature of Vaccines: Concluding Remarks
4.3 The Obligatory (or Not) Nature of Vaccines: Legal Issues
4.4 Health Policies: An Analysis of the Different Options Available
4.4.1 Proactive Measures to Increase Vaccination: Persuasion, Manipulation and Incentives
4.4.2 Classical Compulsory Measures: Vaccination Policies Based on Sanctions (Mandatory Vaccination)
4.4.3 Reimbursement of Health-Care Costs: The Singapore Proposal
4.4.4 Coercive Systems or Forced Vaccination Systems
4.4.5 Different Systems for Different Collectives?
4.5 Concluding Remarks: What Vaccination Policies Are Relevant in a Public Health Crisis?
4.6 Addenda: Vaccination as a Factor to be Included in Triage Protocols
References
Chapter 5: Triage: When the Tsunami Hits
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Emergency Triage: Description
5.3 Distinguishing Triage from Not Triage
5.3.1 Patients Do Not Need the Resource
5.3.2 Patients Do Not Wish to Be Administered the Remedy or Are Willing to Forgo It for Altruistic Reasons
5.3.3 Available Resources Can Be Increased to Meet Demand
5.4 Different Possible Objectives
5.5 The Objectives
5.6 Equity Criteria
5.6.1 Preference for Socially Vulnerable People
5.6.2 Preference for Risky Professions
5.6.3 The Fair Innings
5.6.4 The Child’s Best Interests
5.7 Rules for the Implementation of the Criteria
5.7.1 Preference for Those Who Show the Best Ratio Between the Probability of Salvation and the Time of Use of the Resource
5.7.2 “First Come, First Served”
5.7.3 The Draw
5.7.4 The Compensation System: The “Weighed Lotteries”
5.8 Should the Reservation or Reallocation of Resources Be Accepted or Even Promoted?
5.8.1 The Reservation of Resources Is Unacceptable
5.8.2 To Reassign Is to Kill?
5.8.3 Other Arguments
5.8.4 Reallocating Resources: Final Considerations
5.9 A Combined Resource Allocation Model: Mixing Equity and Efficiency
5.10 Operational Standards: Who Is to Control the Allocation of Resources? How to Decide Which Criteria Are to Be Applied?
5.10.1 Response Planning in General
5.10.2 Decision-Making on the Individual Patient
References
Index