CODE-RED: The Ethics of Exterminating Lives of Entire Communities for Public Health

This book argues for the extermination of entire populations within infected areas following a utilitarian approach to protect lives of those in non-infected areas during CODE-RED. CODE-RED is a hypothetical public health situation involving an outbreak of a highly virulent and extremely infectious pandemic, when quarantine is deemed ineffective, there is no vaccine, prophylaxis or cure available and exterminating the ‘infected population’ (Redzonians) is the only viable solution. The question of extermination is sensitive, controversial and emotive, requiring an impartial and impersonal approach to facilitate necessary but agonising decision making. On the question of justice and rights, it explores the principle of self-defence as justification for extermination, taking into account that the Redzonians are not responsible for the contagion and the Variants (the uninfected within the ‘infected’ zones) are innocent bystanders.