Your Liberty or Your Life: Reciprocity in the Use of Restrictive Measures in Contexts of Contagion

In this paper, we explore the role of reciprocity in the employment of restrictive measures in contexts of contagion. Reciprocity should be understood as a substantive value that governs the use, level and extent of restrictive measures. We also argue that independent of the role reciprocity plays i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of bioethical inquiry 2009, Vol.6 (2), p.207-217
Main Authors: Viens, A. M., Bensimon, Cécile M., Upshur, Ross E. G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioethics
Communicable diseases
Control
Ethics
Liberty
Medical Law
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Quarantine
Theory of Medicine/Bioethics
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Summary:In this paper, we explore the role of reciprocity in the employment of restrictive measures in contexts of contagion. Reciprocity should be understood as a substantive value that governs the use, level and extent of restrictive measures. We also argue that independent of the role reciprocity plays in the legitimisation the use of restrictive measures, reciprocity can also motivate support and compliance with legitimate restrictive measures. The importance of reciprocity has implications for how restrictive measures should be undertaken when preparing and evaluating public health responses to contagion.
ISSN:1176-7529
1872-4353
1872-4353
DOI:10.1007/s11673-009-9149-2