Ethical considerations in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

The Government has indicated a number of further public health measures may be needed in order to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. The current situation (as of 17 March 2020) is summarised in the annex, including an overview of the Government’s action plan of ‘contain, delay, research and mitigate’.

The following review of ethical considerations draws on the findings of a number of in-depth inquiries conducted by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, including those concerned with public health, solidarity, and research in global health emergencies. For further commentary on the ethical considerations associated with research into COVID-19, see the Nuffield Council blog The ethical imperative of preparedness.