Re: Do U.S. pandemic plans threaten rights, ACLU asks

[Guest guest]

It's amazing to me that the Government is worried about the bird flu as it has a

record of infecting 349 people since 2003 and killed 216 of them.

But, there not worried about the Anthrax Vaccine which has made 1000's sick

and killing some soldiers?

I'm not saying it shouldn't be a concern but when something they have done

isn't of concern it makes one wonder.

Randi Airola <randiceaj@...> wrote:

http://news./s/nm/20080114/hl_nm/birdflu_rights_dc_3

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor Mon Jan 14, 2:53 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. policy in preparing for a potential bird flu

pandemic is veering dangerously toward a heavy-handed law-enforcement approach,

the American Civil Liberties Union said on Monday.

The group, which advocates for individuals' legal rights based on the U.S.

Constitution, said federal government pandemic plans were confusing and could

emphasize a police and military approach to outbreaks of disease, instead of a

more sensible public health approach.

" Rather than focusing on well-established measures for protecting the lives and

health of Americans, policymakers have recently embraced an approach that views

public health policy through the prism of national security and law

enforcement, " the ACLU report reads.

But the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) said the group had

misunderstood the government's approach and said current plans already

incorporate many of the ACLU's recommendations.

Infectious disease experts agree that a pandemic of some sort of influenza is

inevitable, and most worries focus on H5N1 avian influenza. Although it mainly

attacks birds, the virus has infected 349 people since 2003 and killed 216 of

them.

A few mutations could turn it into a highly infectious disease for people and

could kill millions globally.

Most countries are working to develop plans to deal with the potential

consequences. The U.S. plans are available on Web sites such as

http://pandemicflu.gov.

The ACLU said it was worried that the plan called for military and police

involvement in enforcing a quarantine.

The ACLU experts said they were especially disturbed by an October executive

order from President W. Bush that directed HHS to establish a task force

to plan for potential catastrophes like a terrorist attack, pandemic influenza

or a natural disaster that would ensure full use of Department of Defense

resources.

The Bush order does not specify what the Department of Defense role would be,

but also mentions military medical research facilities that have played a role

in health for decades.

" Pandemic planning today tends to emphasize mandatory vaccination and forced

treatment, " the ACLU's Tania Simoncelli told a news conference.

" It also means that sick people are being treated as criminals and enemies of

the state rather than individuals in need of care. "

The ACLU said plans should focus on how to help people stay home without losing

pay, and instead of merely advising citizens to stockpile food, should provide

for ways to help them do so.

HHS spokesman Bill Hall said the government plan stressed community and

individual involvement.

" They have mischaracterized our planning efforts. They are confusing a

containment attempt as our overall pandemic response once the virus has spread

beyond our ability to stop it, " Hall said in a telephone interview.

" Respecting civil liberties has been an important component of our pandemic

planning. "

He said many of the recommendations ACLU makes, such as voluntary vaccination

and treatment, were in the plan.

(Editing by Will Dunham and Philip Barbara)

Randi J. Airola, © 517-819-5926

[Guest guest]

Well I hope they realize it will be a cold day in hell before that happens!!

chappy <chappy@...> wrote: Oh it's a concern all right.

But it's a concern to keep denying it long enough for us to all give up.

Chappy

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[Guest guest]

Oh it's a concern all right.

But it's a concern to keep denying it long enough for us to all give up.

Chappy

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[Guest guest]

I would like to see this plan for myself before I'll believe government shills.Lee <jackalope_lepus@...> wrote: Do U.S. pandemic plans threaten rights, ACLU asksBy Maggie Fox, Health and Science EditorWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. policy in preparing for a potential birdflu pandemic is veering dangerously toward a heavy-handedlaw-enforcement approach, the American Civil Liberties Union said onMonday.The group, which advocates for individuals' legal rights based on theU.S. Constitution, said federal government

pandemic plans wereconfusing and could emphasize a police and military approach tooutbreaks of disease, instead of a more sensible public health approach."Rather than focusing on well-established measures for protecting thelives and health of Americans, policymakers have recently embraced anapproach that views public health policy through the prism of nationalsecurity and law enforcement," the ACLU report reads.But the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) said the grouphad misunderstood the government's approach and said current plansalready incorporate many of the ACLU's recommendations.Infectious disease experts agree that a pandemic of some sort ofinfluenza is inevitable, and most worries focus on H5N1 avianinfluenza. Although it mainly attacks birds, the virus has infected349 people since 2003 and killed 216 of them.A few mutations could turn it into a highly infectious disease

forpeople and could kill millions globally.Most countries are working to develop plans to deal with the potentialconsequences. The U.S. plans are available on Web sites such ashttp://pandemicflu.gov.The ACLU said it was worried that the plan called for military andpolice involvement in enforcing a quarantine.The ACLU experts said they were especially disturbed by an Octoberexecutive order from President W. Bush that directed HHS toestablish a task force to plan for potential catastrophes like aterrorist attack, pandemic influenza or a natural disaster that wouldensure full use of Department of Defense resources.The Bush order does not specify what the Department of Defense rolewould be, but also mentions military medical research facilities thathave played a role in health for decades."Pandemic planning today tends to emphasize mandatory

vaccination andforced treatment," the ACLU's Tania Simoncelli told a news conference."It also means that sick people are being treated as criminals andenemies of the state rather than individuals in need of care."The ACLU said plans should focus on how to help people stay homewithout losing pay, and instead of merely advising citizens tostockpile food, should provide for ways to help them do so.HHS spokesman Bill Hall said the government plan stressed communityand individual involvement."They have mischaracterized our planning efforts. They are confusing acontainment attempt as our overall pandemic response once the virushas spread beyond our ability to stop it," Hall said in a telephoneinterview."Respecting civil liberties has been an important component of ourpandemic planning."He said many of the recommendations ACLU makes, such as voluntaryvaccination and treatment, were in the

plan.http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=do-us-pandemic-plans-thre . Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

As it says, the plan is to make full use, FULL USE, of Department of

Defense resources. Just in case peace ever breaks out, this will keep

the DOD employed. Notice that nothing is said about the military

transfer system being a primary way of spreading disease worldwide.

Shut down the DOD and the airlines, and that would take care of a lot

of the problem.

I do think that it is funny that Mr. Bush, whom many would deem a war

criminal for his involvement in torture, has issued an executive order

which leads the ACLU to worry that some Americans might be treated as

criminals. But it is good that somebody is worried about this

executive order.

Do U.S. pandemic plans

threaten rights, ACLU asks

> By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

> The ACLU said it was worried that the plan called for military and

> police involvement in enforcing a quarantine.

>

> The ACLU experts said they were especially disturbed by an October

> executive order from President W. Bush that directed HHS to

> establish a task force to plan for potential catastrophes like a

> terrorist attack, pandemic influenza or a natural disaster that would

> ensure full use of Department of Defense resources.

>

> The Bush order does not specify what the Department of Defense role

> would be, but also mentions military medical research facilities that

> have played a role in health for decades.

>

> " Pandemic planning today tends to emphasize mandatory vaccination and

> forced treatment, " the ACLU's Tania Simoncelli told a news conference.

>

> " It also means that sick people are being treated as criminals and

> enemies of the state rather than individuals in need of care. "

>

> The ACLU said plans should focus on how to help people stay home

> without losing pay, and instead of merely advising citizens to

> stockpile food, should provide for ways to help them do so.