The issue of an Ebola epidemic gives rise to obligations for infected individuals in regards to the health of others. It requires the consideration of ethical theories such as utilitarianism and the right for autonomy, where there is a need for individuals infected with the Ebola virus to give up their liberty in order to prevent harm to others. This will be supported with the harm principle and the need for the government to contribute to the public good of preventing the spread of communicable diseases.
The Ebola virus is a fatal and contagious disease that can be passed through human contact with an infected person in the form of blood, secretions and bodily fluid (The World Health Organisation, 2015a). The disease can also be passed through …show more content…
Mill argues that a utilitarian approach would mean that individuals should be granted a maximum amount of freedom and liberty without consequently interrupting other people’s right to freedom (Mill, 1989). The concept of freedom is defined as being free from state intervention and grants an individual the entitlement of self-governance and autonomy (Mill, 1989). Thus, an individual has the power to make their own decisions in order to benefit their own …show more content…
The utilitarianism theory illustrates the harm principle as a way of determining whether the restriction of one’s liberty can be rightly justified (Mill, 1989). This means that an individual’s autonomy can be coercively restricted through state intervention when their actions cause harm to another party (Selgelid, 2008). Feinberg suggests that harm can be imposed on another person in three ways (Feinberg, 1987). The harm can be an apparent physical injury or damage to property or it could also be seen as a setback to one’s interests. More importantly harm can be understood as a violation of rights in the form of intentional wrongful harm (Feinberg, 1987). Citizens have a right to be protected from contagious illnesses (Harris & Holm , 1995) and having a contagious and fatal disease like Ebola can cause serious harm to others if it was transmitted. This would be a violation to the rights of others in society to cause the spread of a contagious disease and highlights the duty for an infected person to give up their freedom in order to not infect others (Harris & Holm ,
The Ebola virus is a fatal and contagious disease that can be passed through human contact with an infected person in the form of blood, secretions and bodily fluid (The World Health Organisation, 2015a). The disease can also be passed through …show more content…
Mill argues that a utilitarian approach would mean that individuals should be granted a maximum amount of freedom and liberty without consequently interrupting other people’s right to freedom (Mill, 1989). The concept of freedom is defined as being free from state intervention and grants an individual the entitlement of self-governance and autonomy (Mill, 1989). Thus, an individual has the power to make their own decisions in order to benefit their own …show more content…
The utilitarianism theory illustrates the harm principle as a way of determining whether the restriction of one’s liberty can be rightly justified (Mill, 1989). This means that an individual’s autonomy can be coercively restricted through state intervention when their actions cause harm to another party (Selgelid, 2008). Feinberg suggests that harm can be imposed on another person in three ways (Feinberg, 1987). The harm can be an apparent physical injury or damage to property or it could also be seen as a setback to one’s interests. More importantly harm can be understood as a violation of rights in the form of intentional wrongful harm (Feinberg, 1987). Citizens have a right to be protected from contagious illnesses (Harris & Holm , 1995) and having a contagious and fatal disease like Ebola can cause serious harm to others if it was transmitted. This would be a violation to the rights of others in society to cause the spread of a contagious disease and highlights the duty for an infected person to give up their freedom in order to not infect others (Harris & Holm ,