Ethical Issues in Technological Disaster: A Systematic Review of Literature

Document Type : RESEARCH PAPER

Authors

1 Medical Ethics and History of Medicine Research Center, AND Department of Medical Ethics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2 Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center/Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 5th floor, Shariati hospital, North Karegar Avenue, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.

4 Cancer Research Center of the Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

5 Department of Health in Emergency and Disaster, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

6 Assistant Professor in Epidemiology. Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.

7 Medical Ethics and History of Medicinee Research Center, AND Department of Medical Ethics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

8 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Resalat Avenue, Urmia, Iran. Department of Public Health, Division of Social Medicine, KarolinskaInstitutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Abstract

Ethical issues in Technological disaster: A systematic review of literature
Introduction: Industrialization could bring risk of Technological Disaster (TD) such as happened in Chernobyl, Bhopal and Fukushima crisis. little has been discussed about its related ethical issues. In this study, we aimed to investigate ethical issues have been stated for technological disasters.
Material and Methods: A systematic search was conducted on the main international literature databases including Pubmed, Embase, Scopus and ISI (Jan 1, 2000 to March 30, 2014). From 64 articles were eligible for investigation of ethical issues in Natural disaster, 6 was related to Technological Disaster. The articles were in English language.
Result: Our result show that there are six articles discussing ethical issues during Technological disaster. All of them are related to nuclear crisis in Fukushima resulting from Japan tsunami 2011. These articles discussed mainly three ethical issues in providing medical care to victims of Technological Disasters as follow: 1- Duty of care 2- Mandatory evacuation and Resource Allocation.
Conclusion: Victim health is the main factor for making decision and implementation of any programs during response to disasters. Mandatory Evacuation for reasons other than providing health to people (such as: maintain public order) and if bring health risk to people will be unjustified. Duty of health workers for providing care is based on General beneficence meanwhile it is necessary to provide facilities to protect them from dangers that treat them in the field. For act ethically, Health workers must have adequate preparedness for response to T-D meanwhile it is necessary to provide guidelines for individuals that participation in relief operation. It is necessary to discuss more about Technological Disaster Ethics especially in industrial countries and where there is especial industrial with potential of huge crises.

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The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume 6, Issue 4
July 2018
Pages 269-276

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 March 2017
  • Accept Date: 04 February 2018

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