A Framework for Personal Respiratory Ethics

The Covid-19 pandemic raises the need for an ethical framework that addresses unique challenges and questions arising from airborne infectious diseases. For example, are we ever ethically obliged to wear a face mask? If so, why when? Respiratory Ethics Framework (REF) herein proposes pathways answers grounded in norms moral principles of non-harm, beneficence respect personal autonomy. REF is ethics wherein your duty increase respiratory hygiene efforts—such as by donning mask—is proportional estimation likelihood effluent poses risk harmful infection others. includes illustrated decision models instantiate proportionality between levels risk, mitigation shapes across domains.