Public health measures to control tuberculosis in low-income countries: Ethics and human rights considerations

John D. Kraemer, O. A. Cabrera, J. A. Singh, T. B. Depp, L. O. Gostin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

In low-income countries, tuberculosis (TB) control measures should be guided by ethical concerns and human rights obligations. Control programs should consider the principles of necessity, reasonableness and effectiveness of means, proportionality, distributive justice, and transparency. Certain measures - detention, infection control, and treatment to prevent transmission - raise particular concerns. While isolation is appropriate under certain circumstances, quarantine is never an acceptable control measure for TB, and any detention must be limited by necessity and conducted humanely. States have a duty to implement hospital infection control to the extent of their available resources and to provide treatment to health care workers (HCWs) infected on the job. HCWs, in turn, have an obligation to provide care unless conditions are unreasonably and unforeseeably unsafe. Finally, states have an obligation to provide adequate access to treatment, as a means of preventing transmission, as broadly as possible and in a non-discriminatory fashion. Along with treatment, states should provide support to increase treatment adherence and retention with respect for patient privacy and autonomy. Compulsory treatment is almost never acceptable. Governments should take care to respect human rights and ethical obligations as they execute TB control programs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)S19-S24
JournalInternational Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Volume15
Issue numberSUPPL. 2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Ethics
  • Human rights
  • Public health
  • Tuberculosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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