209644 Legal and ethical indicators impacting vulnerable populations in public healh emergency preparedness and response

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 11:30 AM

Patricia Sweeney, JD, MPH, RN , Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Elizabeth Ferrell Bjerke, JD , University of Pittsburgh Center for Public Health Practice, Pittsburgh, PA
Christopher Keane, ScD , Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Sandra C. Quinn, PhD , Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences & Research Center of Excellence on Minority Health Disparities, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Jessica Kanzler, BA , Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
  
The tragedies that resulted from hurricanes Rita and Katrina, patently demonstrated the critical role law and ethics play in public health emergency preparedness and response. To first identify and then address the legal and ethical issues impacting the preparedness and response efforts of the fifty states and the federal Public Health Systems, the research team set out to define the ethical issues impacting emergency response among members of vulnerable populations across the Country. To accomplish this, 4 focus groups were held with individuals representing vulnerable populations and service providers served by the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) Advanced Practice Centers. The advanced practice centers are local health departments designated by NAACHO as engaged in innovative projects to enhance public health system performance. Advanced practice centers are located in Massachusetts, Georgia, Minnesota, Maryland, California, Washington, Texas, and New York.

Focus groups findings identified a number of ethical issues not yet addressed in the preparedness literature.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify appropriate methods for recruiting representatives of vulnerable population in public health emergency preparedness research studies. 2. Define methods for Identifying the ethical issues impacting public health emergency preparedness and response in state and federal public health systems 3. Describe the impact of these ethical issues upon preparedness and response activities in vulnerable communities around the country 4. Discuss strategies to translate research findings into community preparedness efforts.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

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