AMA Journal of Ethics^®

Under-resourced and fragmented public health infrastructure has contributed to a poor pandemic response in the United States.

This commentary considers how clinician-governors should respond to how Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores are applied.

Dr Evan Anderson joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article, coauthored with Professor Scott Burris: “Which Skills Are Key to Public Health Leaders’ Success in Crisis Management?”

Dr Katherine Pumphrey joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Dr Jessica Hart: “What the COVID-19 Pandemic Teaches Us About Pediatric Iatrogenic Risk.”

Pediatricians have been forced to navigate diagnostic uncertainty, hospital closures, limited staffing, and new infection control guidelines.

Dumping domestic and international health care waste into the earth’s terra firma and oceans undermine global health equity and the health of vulnerable communities.

Health care generates a lot of waste that enters landfills, oceans, and incinerators and adversely affects communities close to waste processing and disposal areas.

All health workers should be included in planning personal protective equipment access and infectious disease containment operations.

Professor Nicole Hallet joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article: “Wage Theft and Worker Exploitation in Health Care.”

Workers essential to social functioning and safety are paid as if health care organizations would not cease functioning without them.