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Braithwaite J, Pichumani A, Crowley P. Tackling climate change: the pivotal role of clinicians. BMJ 2023; 382:e076963. [PMID: 37770093 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
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Williams PCM, Beardsley J, Isaacs D, Preisz A, Marais BJ. The impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on the health of children: An ethical perspective. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1048317. [PMID: 36743159 PMCID: PMC9895790 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1048317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The reality of human induced climate change is no longer in doubt, but the concerted global action required to address this existential crisis remains inexcusably inert. Together with climate change, biodiversity collapse is increasingly driving the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, the consequences of which are inequitable globally. Climate change is regressive in its nature, with those least responsible for destroying planetary health at greatest risk of suffering the direct and indirect health consequences. Over half a billion of the world's children live in areas vulnerable to extreme weather events. Without immediate action, the health of today's children and future generations will be compromised. We consider the impact of biodiversity collapse on the spread of infectious diseases and outline a duty of care along a continuum of three dimensions of medical ethics. From a medical perspective, the first dimension requires doctors to serve the best interests of their individual patients. The second dimension considers the public health dimension with a focus on disease control and cost-effectiveness. The neglected third dimension considers our mutual obligation to the future health and wellbeing of children and generations to come. Given the adverse impact of our ecological footprint on current and future human health, we have a collective moral obligation to act.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe C. M. Williams
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID), The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, Australia
- School of Women and Children's Health, The University of NSW School of Women's and Children's Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Justin Beardsley
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID), The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, Australia
| | - David Isaacs
- Clinical Ethics, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Health Ethics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anne Preisz
- Clinical Ethics, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Health Ethics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ben J. Marais
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID), The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, Australia
- Clinical Ethics, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Health Ethics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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McGain F. Climate change and child health. J Paediatr Child Health 2022; 58:2327-2328. [PMID: 36462162 PMCID: PMC10107429 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.16281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Forbes McGain
- Departments of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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