Pandemic Ethics: From COVID-19 to Disease X

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Format : Publisher PDF

File Size : 2.5 MB

Category: Public Health Books

Description

Pandemic Ethics: From COVID-19 to Disease X

By Savulescu

The COVID-19 pandemic is a defining event of the 21st century. It has taken over eighteen million lives, closed national borders, put whole populations into quarantine and devastated economies.Yet while COVID-19 is catastrophic, it is not unique. Children who have been home-schooled during COVID-19 will almost certainly face another pandemic in their lifetime – one at least as bad-and potentially much worse-than this one. The WHO has referred to such a future (currently unknown) pathogen as “Disease X”.The defining feature of a pandemic is its scale-the simultaneous threat to millions or even billions of lives. That scale leads to unavoidable ethical dilemmas since the lives and livelihood of all cannot be protected.But since one of the most powerful ways of arresting the spread of a pandemic is to reduce contact between people, pandemic ethics also challenges some of our most widely accepted ethical beliefs about individual liberty and autonomy.Finally, pandemic ethics brings vividly to the foreground debates about the structure of society, inequalities, disadvantage and our global responsibilities.In this timely and vital collection, Dominic Wilkinson and Julian Savulescu bring together a global team of leading philosophers, lawyers, economists, and bioethicists. The book reviews the COVID-19 pandemic to ask not only ‘did our societies make the right ethical choices?’, but also ‘what lessons must we learn before Disease X arrives?’

Product Details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press, USA (July 15, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0192871684
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0192871688

The “Pandemic Ethics: Lessons for Disease X” book, written by Dominic Wilkinson and Julian Savulescu, offers a thought-provoking analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for future global health crises. Published by Oxford University Press in July 2023, this book delves into the ethical dilemmas, social inequalities, and global responsibilities that arise during pandemics. It serves as a timely and vital resource for anyone interested in understanding the ethical choices made during the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons we must learn for the future.

COVID-19 has shaken the world, claiming the lives of millions, disrupting economies, and forcing populations into quarantine. However, the authors argue that this pandemic is not unique and that future generations will likely face similar, if not worse, global health crises. Referred to as “Disease X” by the World Health Organization, the looming threat of an unknown pathogen adds urgency to the need for ethical analysis and preparedness.

One of the defining features of a pandemic is its scale, as it poses a simultaneous threat to millions, if not billions, of lives. This scale raises challenging ethical questions concerning the protection of all lives and livelihoods. The authors delve into these dilemmas, challenging widely accepted beliefs about individual liberty and autonomy. By reducing contact between people, an effective strategy for containing the spread of pandemics, societal structures and inequalities come to the forefront of ethical debates.

“Pandemic Ethics: Lessons for Disease X” goes beyond evaluating the ethical choices made during the COVID-19 pandemic. It invites readers to critically reflect on the decisions made by societies and governments and to ponder the ethical frameworks that underpin these decisions. The book brings together a global team of leading philosophers, lawyers, economists, and bioethicists, ensuring a diverse and comprehensive analysis of the ethical landscape of pandemics.

The authors aim to address two fundamental questions through this collection. Firstly, they ask whether our societies made the right ethical choices during the COVID-19 pandemic. By examining the decisions made on an international scale, they uncover the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches. Secondly, they explore the lessons that need to be learned before the arrival of Disease X. By drawing on the current pandemic, the authors emphasize the importance of proactive measures, ethical considerations, and global cooperation in combating future health crises.

For anyone interested in pandemic ethics, this book provides a rich and in-depth exploration of the subject. It navigates the complexities of ethical decision-making in the face of a global health crisis, shedding light on the multifaceted challenges societies and individuals face. The insights offered by Wilkinson and Savulescu, along with their team of expert contributors, have the potential to shape future policy and response to pandemics.

In conclusion, “Pandemic Ethics: Lessons for Disease X” is an essential read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the ethical dimensions of pandemics. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the looming threat of Disease X, this book offers valuable insights into the choices societies make and the lessons we must learn. By elucidating the ethical dilemmas and global responsibilities that arise during pandemics, Wilkinson and Savulescu contribute to the ongoing discourse on pandemic preparedness and ethically sound decision-making.

Order the Book Now

To explore the ethical challenges of pandemics and gain valuable insights into the lessons we must learn, order your copy of “Pandemic Ethics: Lessons for Disease X” today. This timely and thought-provoking collection is available from Oxford University Press, USA. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to deepen your understanding of pandemic ethics and contribute to the conversations shaping our response to future health crises.