How to overcome lockdown

Selective isolation versus contact tracing

verfasst von
Lucie White, Philippe Van Basshuysen
Abstract

At this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, two policy aims are imperative: Avoiding the need for a general lockdown of the population, with all its economic, social and health costs, and preventing the healthcare system from being overwhelmed by the unchecked spread of infection. Achieving these two aims requires the consideration of unpalatable measures. Julian Savulescu and James Cameron argue that mandatory isolation of the elderly is justified under these circumstances, as they are at increased risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19, and are thus likely to put disproportionate strain on limited healthcare resources. However, their arguments for this strategy are contingent on the lack of viable alternatives. We suggest that there is a possible alternative: A mandatory, centralised contact-Tracing app. We argue that this strategy is ethically preferable to the selective isolation of the elderly, because it does not target members of a certain group, relying instead on the movements of each individual, and because it avoids the extended isolation of certain members of the society. Although this type of contact-Tracing app has its drawbacks, we contend that this measure warrants serious consideration.

Organisationseinheit(en)
Institut für Philosophie
Typ
Übersichtsarbeit
Journal
Journal of medical ethics
Band
46
Seiten
724-725
Anzahl der Seiten
2
ISSN
0306-6800
Publikationsdatum
28.10.2020
Publikationsstatus
Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Probleme, Ethik und rechtliche Aspekte, Gesundheit (Sozialwissenschaften), Geisteswissenschaftliche Fächer (sonstige), Health policy
Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung
SDG 3 – Gute Gesundheit und Wohlergehen
Elektronische Version(en)
https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106680 (Zugang: Offen)