The challenge of mandatory evacuation: providing for and deciding for.
Insufficient attention has been given to the ethical and legal questions surrounding mandatory evacuation in disasters and emergencies. We argue that mandatory evacuation orders entail a governmental duty both to provide for people and to decide for people: Government must trigger the provision of critical resources as well as vigorous and persistent efforts to persuade reluctant citizens to leave. Public health professionals, with their experience in weighing costs and risks in the face of uncertainty and balancing individual liberties with the need to protect the common welfare, offer a unique perspective that should be brought to bear in emergencies and disasters.
Fairchild
Amy L
AL
The Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, USA. alf4@columbia.edu
Colgrove
James
J
Jones
Marian Moser
MM
D002961:Civil Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D037141:Mandatory Programs / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018635:Rescue Work; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014186:Transportation; D014481:United States