Enhancing the Legitimacy of Local Government Pandemic Influenza Planning through Transparency and Public Engagement

Ethical issues in an influenza pandemic often require local government officials to make unprecedented, complex decisions. Effective planning with significant input from key community stakeholders is required well ahead of time in order to anticipate and mitigate a serious health crisis. The author evaluates the pandemic plans of 28 large cities across the United States using criteria derived from guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The analysis reveals that planning legitimacy can be enhanced by wider transparency and civic engagement, greater opportunities for the inclusion of all stakeholders in decision making, mock community-wide exercises and drills, as well as more public access to comprehensive emergency planning information.

[1]  Lawrence O. Gostin,et al.  Pandemic Influenza: Ethics, Law, and the Public's Health , 2010 .

[2]  E. Raymond,et al.  Pandemic Influenza Planning: An Extraordinary Ethical Dilemma for Local Government Officials , 2009 .

[3]  J. Nalbandian.  Predicting the Future: Why Citizen Engagement No Longer Is Optional , 2008 .

[4]  Keri A. Jupka,et al.  Communicating with the public about emerging health threats: lessons from the Pre-Event Message Development Project. , 2008, American journal of public health.

[5]  J. Bowman,et al.  Ethics in Government: No Matter How Long and Dark the Night , 2008 .

[6]  Jeremy L. Hall,et al.  Taking Chances: Evaluating Risk as a Guide to Better Use of Best Practices , 2008 .

[7]  Rodney E. Stanley,et al.  Two Years Later: Hurricane Katrina Still Poses Significant Human Resource Problems for Local Governments , 2008 .

[8]  Anne Spray Kinney.  Current approaches to citizen involvement in performance measurement and questions they raise , 2008 .

[9]  Ross Upshur,et al.  Ethics in an Epidemic: Ethical Considerations in Preparedness Planning for Pandemic Influenza , 2007 .

[10]  Gregg G. Van Ryzin,et al.  Citizen Attitudes Toward Transparency in Local Government , 2007 .

[11]  Jennifer B Nuzzo,et al.  Community engagement: leadership tool for catastrophic health events. , 2007, Biosecurity and bioterrorism : biodefense strategy, practice, and science.

[12]  M. Brandenburg,et al.  Terrorist Attacks against Children: Vulnerabilities, Management Principles and Capability Gaps , 2006 .

[13]  W. Waugh,et al.  Collaboration and Leadership for Effective Emergency Management , 2006 .

[14]  D. Yankelovich,et al.  Public engagement in California: Escaping the vicious cycle , 2006 .

[15]  Stephen D. Prior,et al.  Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Adaptive Responses to an Evolving Challenge , 2006 .

[16]  M. Glaser,et al.  Service Delivery Satisfaction and Willingness to Pay Taxes: Citizen Recognition of Local Government Performance , 1999 .

[17]  J. West,et al.  Responsible Risk-Taking , 1998 .

[18]  Kenneth P. Ruscio,et al.  Trust, Democracy, and Public Management: A Theoretical Argument , 1996 .

[19]  William L. Waugh,et al.  Regionalizing Emergency Management: Counties as State and Local Government , 1994 .

[20]  D. Menzel.  Ethics Induced Stress in the Local Government Workplace , 1993 .

[21]  W. Petak.  Emergency Management: A Challenge for Public Administration , 1985 .