Your place of employment has been designated a first response site in case of the unthinkable—a bioterrorist attack. The administration has decided to identify key personnel on a volunteer basis,...

Your place of employment has been designated a first response site in case of the unthinkable—a bioterrorist attack. The administration has decided to identify key personnel on a volunteer basis, hoping to create a core group that will become the chief managers and caregivers in such an exigency. Each professional employee is asked to indicate his or her willingness to be a member of the core group, and each is asked also to discuss the matter with loved ones before arriving at this decision. Some issues you are asked to consider are the heightened danger (in respect to the general population) you will be in either because the facility is hit directly or because exposed victims may quickly contaminate the facility, the likelihood that all communication will be cut off with the world outside your workplace, the likelihood that a triage network will be set up to include—and exclude—some victims for desperately needed attention, and the likelihood that you will be “locked in” and not free to leave the site until such time as you are deemed not to be a biohazard to others. Will you volunteer? On what factors do you base your decision?