An interesting article in the BMJ from Daniel Sokel (ethicist at UCL) discussing the moral decisions of medical staff in choosing whether to come to work in the midst of a pandemic out break.
He makes a sensible plea for a discussion now as when the outbreak occurs will be to late to discuss the matter in suitable depth! Hospitals around the globe have had to deal with this reality (Hong Kong & Toronto in SARS). Unfortuantly Sokel outlines some of the pertinent facts but fails to determine a process for deciding what an individual should do, although he has elsewhere and was presmubably on a space brief. Does personal autonomy here trump professional duty? Where are the boundaries of professional duty and are they same for all individuals in all circumstances ? A collegue to mine, Dale Gardiner, has written an eloquent exposition of his personal position on the same topic.
Harvester 