Ethical Use of Public Health Law Tools

The tools of law and regulations can provide public health professionals with far-reaching powers to improve the health of communities. Their use, however, also raises ethical dilemmas. This week’s media program highlighted examples of social marketing campaigns that might be effective in combating smoking or obesity but bring up negative stereotypes to make their point.

Can you think of any instances in which policies for protecting the “common good” might actually be unethical? Select one of the various tools of public health law that you have learned about in this course and reflect on how this tool might be used ethically or unethically for public health goals.

With these thoughts in mind, address the following questions.

Post by Day 4 your response to the following: (Reminder: You must address all of the Discussion points in one initial posting.)
Provide a scenario in which one of the tools of public health law might be used in an ethical way, and another scenario in which it might be considered unethical. For each, explain why this use is or isn’t ethical.

Describe what you would do, as a public health official, if told you had to enforce a law that you believe is unethical.