How to overcome lockdown: Selective isolation versus contact tracing

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Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)724-725
Number of pages2
JournalJournal of medical ethics
Volume46
Issue number11
Early online date19 Aug 2020
Publication statusPublished - 28 Oct 2020

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.

Keywords

    coercion, elderly and terminally ill, emergency medicine, ethics, public policy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

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How to overcome lockdown: Selective isolation versus contact tracing. / White, Lucie; Van Basshuysen, Philippe.
In: Journal of medical ethics, Vol. 46, No. 11, 28.10.2020, p. 724-725.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleResearchpeer review

White L, Van Basshuysen P. How to overcome lockdown: Selective isolation versus contact tracing. Journal of medical ethics. 2020 Oct 28;46(11):724-725. Epub 2020 Aug 19. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2020-106680
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