Sars and International Legal Preparedness

TLDR: Examples of how regions faced with SARS turned to disease control strategies based on public health law, such as "personal control measures" like quarantine and isolation are discussed; weaknesses in nations' legal systems to frame balanced, coordinated and well-executed public health programs for rapid disease containment; and the responses of diverse populations to restrictive personal control measures are discussed.

Abstract: SARS was a reminder of the continuing threat of epidemic disease in the world. This paper discuss examples of how regions faced with SARS turned to disease control strategies based on public health law, such as "personal control measures" like quarantine and isolation; weaknesses in the ability of nations' legal systems to frame balanced, coordinated and well-executed public health programs for rapid disease containment; and the responses of diverse populations to restrictive personal control measures. The paper uses the experiences of governmental entities of Singapore, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Canada, and the United States to illustrate important public health law and preparedness challenges for infectious disease control. While the experiences of these nations may not perfectly apply in other nations, they represent a spectrum of political and legal cultures. The paper concludes with recommendations encouraging enhanced legal preparations for public health emergencies.