From SARS to Ebola: Legal and Ethical Considerations for Modern Quarantine

Abstract

Quarantine remains an important part of the strategy for containing infectious diseases, especially when there is no vaccine or effective treatment. Recent experiences with SARS and Ebola indicate that large-scale quarantine is fraught with ethical challenges. In the United States, legislation authorizing quarantine has been enacted in every state, and these laws have been upheld by the Supreme Court. The following ethical principles should guide public health officials in deciding whether and how to impose a quarantine: (1) necessity, effectiveness, and scientific rationale; (2) proportionality and least infringement; (3) humane supportive services; and (4) public justification.