title: Family participation in the care of patients in public health disasters.
abstract: The ethical implications of disaster planning garner increasing scrutiny. The role of families in disaster efforts is a topic that requires additional ethical examination. This article reviews the potential roles for families before and during disasters, with particular attention to the impact on children and vulnerable elderly patients. The potential positive and negative impact of family participation in different aspects of healthcare and disaster efforts is assessed.
authors.affiliation: Montefiore-Einstein Center for Bioethics, Bronx, NewYork, USA. tpowell@montefiore.org
authors.forename: Tia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D004190:Disasters; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D011634:Public Health; D016414:Resuscitation Orders; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000600:supply & distribution; D000078329:Workforce