HLT 2320 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Commerce Clause, Reserve Clause, Assisted Suicide
19 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Questions about the scope of public health. Importance of economic factors for health- politically controversial. Politics vs science (regulations don"t always stay in line with science) Those who must pay may not be the ones who benefit. Businesses often resist public health measures because they affect profits. Costs may be short term while benefits may be long term. Fast food: people compromise on health by buying junk ingredients. To protect individuals from their own actions? (opposed by libertarians) For the common good- lots of room for controversy. Assisted suicide and other end of life decisions. Us constitution: to promote the general welfare. Reserve clause: since health is not mentioned in constitution, primary responsibility belongs to the states. Interstate commerce clause justifies federal role in some cases. Power to tax and spend is widely used by federal government to control public health policy.
