PHI 2396 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Health Equity, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Public Health
Document Summary
Ethics and public health ( vaughn , weijer and al. , chapter 14, pp. Framework https://www. youtube. com/watch?v=r3a7qazvasu (what is public health ethics ?) https://www. youtube. com/watch?v=vucqitga7mq (sars in toronto) What is public health ? the health of the population as a whole, especially as monitored, regulated, and promoted by the state. A paternalistic intervention by the state is required under some conditions (childress & al. ) The starting point: public health is primarily concerned with the health of the entire population rather than the health of individuals. The authors point out some general moral considerations relevant for public health interventions. Among those considerations: producing benefits, avoiding harms, respecting autonomous choices and actions including liberty of action, protecting privacy and confidentiality, disclosing information as well as speaking honestly and truthfully, maximizing the balance of benefits over harms (p. 329). Which benefits in relation to public health and to avoid harm!