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Ethical Values for Planning for and Responding to a Pandemic

Date of publication: July 2006

Note: Submissions closed on 16 August 2006

In an influenza pandemic, he better prepared we are, the better we would cope. One important way to be prepared is to think through our values – the basic things that matter to us. Many hard choices would need to be made in a pandemic. But if these choices are based on shared values, and made with goodwill and reasonable judgement, support may be expected for the decisions made.

The National Ethics Advisory Committee (NEAC) has prepared a statement of ethical values for planning for and responding to a pandemic. It identifies widely shared ethical values for our pandemic planning and response. Some are values to govern how we make decisions. Others are values to govern what decisions are made. Values that are recognised in Māori tikanga and kawa are identified alongside other values. The statement is designed to be thought provoking, accessible to a wide range of people, useful at all stages of pandemic planning, and useful in a wide range of situations.

NEAC is seeking feedback to make the statement as reflective of shared values, and as useful, as possible. NEAC also hopes that this discussion document will help to raise issues, and to facilitate public discussion. Feedback is being sought from people and organisations in the health sector, other sectors involved in pandemic planning, community groups and others who may be potentially affected by a pandemic. An initial version of this statement is included in the current Ministry of Health Influenza Pandemic Action Plan, and NEAC aims to include a finalised version of the statement in a subsequent version of this Plan.

Document availability

The discussion document is available in PDF and Word formats.

Ethical Values for Planning for and Responding to a Pandemic in New Zealand: A Statement for Discussion (PDF, 422 KB)
Ethical Values for Planning for and Responding to a Pandemic in New Zealand: A Statement for Discussion (Word, 560 KB)

Related information

Media release: Feedback sought on values identified to guide pandemic response (5 Jul 2006)

National Ethics Advisory Committee

Kāhui Matatika o te Motu

Resources

Publications

Ethical Values for Planning for and Responding to a Pandemic