Toronto SARS Outbreak Legal Issues MVP 8 Team

Toronto SARS Outbreak: Legal Issues September 16, 2008: 

Toronto SARS Outbreak: Legal Issues September 16, 2008 MVP 8 Team: Sonia Cotto-Moreno Joanne Gonwa Paul Lewis Tiffany Pack Tara Romano Zenovia Wright

Problems Addressed: 

Problems Addressed Identification of disease process Timely case reporting Application of isolation & quarantine Individual rights Due Process Potential for job/income loss

Problems Addressed (cont.): 

Problems Addressed (cont.) Legislators had to enact laws supporting Public Health activities Add SARS to communicable disease list Protect jobs & lost wages Education of the public about SARS Symptoms How to report Control measures

Public Health Laws Enforced: 

Public Health Laws Enforced Privacy and patient confidentiality laws Isolation Quarantine Surveillance and case reporting Directives reinforcing use of Personal Protective Equipment

Public Health Laws Enforced (cont.): 

Public Health Laws Enforced (cont.) Restriction of health care workers with multiple job locations Directive prohibiting visitors to hospitals Travel restrictions Surveillance at airports

Toronto’s Jurisdictional Levels: 

Toronto’s Jurisdictional Levels Ontario Provincial Ministry of Health Public Health Branch Local Medical Officers of Health Local Public Health Workers

Public Response: 

Public Response Public response categorized as “good” 27 reported quarantine violations in population over 30,000 “Hotline” effective method to respond to public’s questions

Media Coverage Improvements: 

Media Coverage Improvements Designate a single spokesperson Provide timely and consistent messages Utilize repetitive messages Convey empathy with messages

Leadership Skills Observed: 

Leadership Skills Observed Legislators responded to enact and clarify existing laws Advocacy to protect quarantined individuals from job/wage loss Public Health front line workers demonstrated commitment dedication to the public

Challenges Ahead: 

Challenges Ahead Improving Emergency Preparedness Recruiting health professionals Emergency response training and drills Development of specific responsibilities for officials Delineation of clear levels of communication within health care community and government

Challenges Ahead (cont.): 

Challenges Ahead (cont.) Improve information technologies Improve strategies to share information Work with legal counsel for case reporting and amendment of public health laws Funding lab improvements Developing risk management approaches for handling and safeguarding specimens

References: 

References Campbell, A. (2004). The SARS Commission Interim Report: SARS and Public Health in Ontario. Retrieved September 4, 2008, from: https://blackboard.unc.edu/ webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab+courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl? Moore, J. (2008). Introduction to Communicable Disease Law, Part I and II. Retrieved September 4, 2008, from http://blackboard.unc.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?

References (cont.): 

References (cont.) Roper, W., Gerberding, J., Barry, M., & Tilson, H. (2003). “SARS When a Global Outbreak Hits Home.” Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 23, Oct., 2003. Retrieved September 4, 2008 from: http://www.publichealthgrandrounds.unc.edu./sars/ondemand/view.cfm Rothsetin, M., Alcalde, M., Elster, N., Majumder, M., Palmer, L., Stone, L., & Hoffman, R. (2003). Quarantine and Isolation: Lessons learned from SARS. Retrieved September 4, 2008, from: https://coursessph.unc.edu/pubh6084/L4_ LessonsLearnedfromSARS-6-16.pdf

References (cont): 

References (cont) Turnock, B. (2004). Public Health: What it is and how it works (3rd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. World Health Organization, 2004. WHO SARS Risk Assessment and Preparedness Framework. Retrieved September 4, 2008 from: http://www.who.int/CSR/resources/publication/ WHO_CDS_CSR_ARO_2004z/en/index.html