CARROT OR STICK?

From a Canadian Newspaper March 1st, 2006

"Pandemic Bill Raises Alarm"

By John Miner

Health Care workers could face fines of up to $100, 000 and jail if they refuse to work.

Sweeping new Ontario emergency legislation has health-care workers afraid they may be forced to choose between protection of their families and a jail sentence if a flu pandemic hits the province. Bill 56 has raised alarms with doctors, nurses and other health-care workers because it contains a clause that gives the Ontario cabinet power to "authorize" any person reasonably qualified to provide services in a declared emergency.

The penalty for violating the proposed law is a fine of up to $100,000 and a year in jail for each day the order isn't obeyed.



While this bill isn't the law yet, its proposal has enraged thousands of healthcare workers in Canada, and has those in other countries wondering how long before other governments follow suit.

Particularly disturbing is the announcement last month that Health Care Workers in Canada will not be receiving Tamiflu as a preventative anti-viral as was orginally proposed. There are, it seems, not enough pills to go around. Tamiflu will only be provided after a health care worker falls ill.

Of course, we don't really know if taking Tamiflu will protect against the Avian Flu. But it was a small bit of hope that most nurses, doctors, medics, and techs had if they were going to report to work.

Now, workers will be faced with no antiviral protections, and a government that is threatening to jail them if they don't expose themselves, and their families, willingly.

You can bet that the government will have Tamiflu for essential employees and their families. HCW's are apparently cannon fodder in the war against Avian Flu.

The decision to use a stick will surely backfire.

Better to offer a carrot to those who will volunteer to brave a pandemic. Tamiflu, masks, gloves, and adequate security for the workers and food/water/meds for their families. If needed, set up barracks for HCW's to live in, away from their families, while they work. But make sure their families are taken care of, provide for communications between workers and their families, and be prepared to pay bonus's to those who work.

The idea that you can force HCW's to work, and that they will comply, is ludicrous. Entice them to work. Make it reasonably safe. Provide incentives for their families. And many (but not all) will decide it is in their families best interests for them to report to work.

Sadly, as governments around the world begin to realize the enormity of the situation, I expect more draconian measures to be considered by our legislatures.

You may avoid the Flu, but Stupidity is endemic in government.