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Committee on Ethical Aspects of Pandemic Influenza (CEAPI)

  • Last modified date:
    2 December 2009
Nurses in discussion

The Committee on Ethical Aspects of Pandemic Influenza (CEAPI) has been set up to advise on the ethical issues arising from an influenza pandemic.

The establishment of the Committee follows the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation in chapter 6 of his Annual Report 2005, that a national group be set up to explore such ethical issues. The CMO highlighted the difficult issues that may arise in healthcare during a pandemic (e.g. prioritisation of limited resources, conflicts between personal and professional obligations of staff) and the need for both the public and professionals to address such issues in advance of a pandemic.

The Committee’s views and advice will be integrated into the Department of Health’s work to prepare for pandemic influenza.

The Committee held its first meeting on 27 September 2006. In addition to developing the ethical framework the Committee has commented on the ethical aspects of issues such as vaccination, essential medicines and social care. CEAPI has provided a guide to their approach to their work and to the development of the ethical framework:

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Meetings

Membership

Chair: Very Reverend Graham Forbes, Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh

Mrs Julie Acred, Chief Executive, Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr John Colvin, Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee

Dr Jane Cowan, Medicolegal Adviser, JCCRC Ltd.

Dr Jean Jacques de Gorter, Director of Clinical Services, BUPA Hospitals Ltd

Professor Robert Dingwall, Director of the Institute for the Study of Genetics, Biorisks and Society, University of Nottingham

Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Health Care at University College London

Professor John Harris, Professor of Bioethics, School of Law, University of Manchester

Dr Victor Larcher, Consultant in General Paediatrics and Clinical Ethics, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London

Professor Jonathan Montgomery, Professor of Health Care Law, University of Southampton; Chair, Hampshire Primary Care Trust

Professor Vivienne Nathanson, Director of Professional Activities, British Medical Association

Ms Jane O’Brien, Head of Standards & Ethics, General Medical Council

Professor Michael Parker, Professor of Bioethics and Director of the Ethox Centre at the University of Oxford

Dr Clive Richards, Consultant in public health medicine, Nottinghamshire

Mr Hugh Robertson, Senior Policy Officer with responsibility for Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation, Trades Union Congress

Mrs Shahwar Sadeque, Educational & ICT Consultant and Chief Executive of TriEs Ltd

Professor John Saunders, Consultant Physician, Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny; Chairman of the Committee for ethical issues in medicine, Royal College of Physicians

Mr Roy Taylor, Director of Community Services, Kingston upon Thames

Mr Roger Thompson, Director of Standards and Registration, Nursing and Midwifery Council

Mr Geoff Watts, freelance journalist

Professor Richard Williams, Professor of Mental Health Strategy, University of Glamorgan; Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust

Dr Patricia Wilkie, Chair, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges patient/lay committee

The Committee includes members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and representatives of the devolved administrations are invited to attend as observers.

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