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Responding to pandemic influenza: The ethical framework for policy and planning

This is generic guidance intended to assist in preparing for a pandemic whose nature and severity is unknown. Although much of the content remains relevant in the current swine flu pandemic, some aspects, particularly those relating to at risk groups and those intended to respond to higher levels of sickness and mortality may not be applicable to the current swine flu situation.  Therefore, the guidance should be read in conjunction with the latest swine flu UK planning assumptions and other specific swine flu guidance

The ethical framework is designed to assist planners and strategic policy makers with ethical aspects of decisions they face before, during and after an influenza pandemic. It may also help clinicians and other health and social care professionals with decisions they need to make in the same context.

• Download Responding to pandemic influenza – The ethical framework for policy (PDF, 296K)
• Pandemic flu: A national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic