Eleventh Futures Forum on the ethical governance of pandemic influenza preparedness : Copenhagen, Denmark, 28-29 June 2007

As a follow-up of the Eleventh Futures Forum held in June 2007, the World Health Organisation European Region launched a publication focused on some countries' experience in applying ethical governance approaches to a major contemporary policy concern for WHO and its Member States [...]. The topic provided a concrete policy-making example to give evidence of the efficacy of generic ethical governance approaches in European health systems. [...]. This report describes the ethical considerations used in pandemic influenza planning in the WHO European Region, WHO's work on incorporating ethical considerations in the development of such plans, some possible guiding principles for ethical decision-making, the ethical frameworks for pandemic influenza planning in three countries (Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), national decision-making structures for planning and response (with a case study from Belgium), the issue of public participation in ethical questions in pandemic influenza preparedness, and the Forum's conclusions. [...] [Ed.] Introduction 1. Pandemic influenza planning in countries 2. Ethical considerations in developing a public health response to pandemic influenza: the work of WHO 3. Principles for ethical decision-making in pandemic influenza planning 4. National provisions for ethical decisions in influenza pandemic planning and response 5. National decision-making structures on pandemic influenza planning and response 6. Endorsing ethical principles through public involvement 7. Conclusions and recommendations References.