Gleanings of Graduate Research: Ethics is Fundamental to Emergency

Management

Denise Reeves, MS

Joshua Standridge, MS

Sandy M. Smith, RN; PhD

Arkansas Tech University

Overview

Emergency Management Philosophy/Mission

Ethical Underpinnings of Emergency Management

2013-14 ATU Graduate Research Studies

Emergency Responders’ Perspectives on Ethics of

Triage

Ethical principles commonly utilized during disasters

–Autonomy–Beneficence–Justice

Emergency Responders’ Perspectives on Ethics of Triage

Fundamental values that impact the triage process–Values of human life and dignity

Emergency Responders’ Perspectives on Ethics of Triage

Emergency Response Triage Challenges

Emergency Responders’ Perspectives on Ethics of Triage

Topics identified for future research– Inclusion of ethics in training–Ethical implications of triage

categories

Emergency Responders’ Perspectives on Ethics of Triage

Case studies

Preparedness of Disabled Populations During Fire

Evacuations At Arkansas’ Four Year Universities

Protecting Human Dignity

Paramount importance during disastersHuman dignity requirements

–Meet safety needs of disabled students

–Area of Refuge

University Court Cases

Murray State University

Arizona State University

Egress Model

Distributive JusticeApplication to Emergency Management

–a) Emergency Managers–b) Disabled–c) Evacuation –d) Distributive Justice Principle

EM Exercise

Creative Problem-Solving

Ethics is Fundamental

Common ethical principles discovered within research findings of graduate research conducted during 2013-2014

JusticeBeneficence

Values: Human Dignity & Life

Ethics is Fundamental

Understanding and becoming comfortable with various ethical

principles informs emergency managers’ ways of being

Ethics in Emergency Management

Avenues for incorporating ethics case studies within the curriculum

Case studies that emerge from classroom discussions

Example case studies for exploring ethical principles and values

Ethics in Emergency Management

Lingering Questions??