Development of a framework for better incorporating ethical considerations in public health policy during emergencies

Aims and Objectives My primary aim is to develop a dynamic framework for better incorporating ethical considerations into public health policy advice during emergencies, particularly pertaining to non-pharmaceutical interventions. I have four objectives: 1. Which frameworks or tools did stakeholders use when giving guidance on stay-at-home orders in England? 2. Which problems and ethical concerns were considered (and not considered) by stakeholders and how were the different concerns negotiated in practice? 3. What are the main points of agreement and disagreement between stakeholders and the ethics literature? 4. How can ethical considerations be better incorporated into public health policy during future emergencies? Methodology First, I will conduct a systematic scoping review to identify and characterize existing frameworks and tools for incorporating ethical considerations into public health policy during emergencies. Second, I will conduct interviews with stakeholders (n=35) to examine the advice they provided on two national stay-at-home orders in England. Third, I will conduct normative analysis to examine points of disagreement between the academic literature and practice. Fourth, I will develop recommendations in collaboration with stakeholders, building on work by James Wilson and Jonathan Wolff on context-sensitive methodology for public policy ethics. Importance The project is important for both practice and theory. First, a better understanding of how some of the most impactful policy decisions were made will shed light on the strength and weaknesses in the decisions and the tools available to improve decision-making. Second, a better framework for decision-making can improve decision-making in future public health emergencies. Third, the work on refining frameworks will also provide the grounds for developing a novel methodology for practically relevant ethics.