HEL-3008 Public Health Ethics - 10 stp

The course gives an introduction to key issues in public health ethics.

A major difference between (clinical) medical ethics and public health ethics is that in public health, many decisions are motivated by explicit utilitarian considerations: what policies will yield the greatest good for the greatest number of people? Therefore, a critical examination of utilitarianism is important in public health ethics.

Public health interventions are usually implemented by governments. The aim is to advance the health of populations. This population perspective creates inherent tensions between what benefits the population as a whole and the potential infringement of individual liberties. Attention will be given to core concepts in political philosophy, such as liberalism and communitarianism. Topics include claims of individual autonomy vs. the protection and improvement of public health, personal integrity and the collection of health information, ethical issues in epidemiology, health concepts and health promotion, research ethics: principles and guidelines.

The student should be able to identify, describe, reflect upon, analyze, and discuss central topics in public health ethics.

Knowledge and understanding:

• The student should be able to explain relevant aspects of consequentialist and non-consequentialist ethics.
• The student should be able to explain relevant topics in political philosophy.
• The student should be able to describe different health concepts.
• The student should be able to describe basic research ethical principles and rules of conduct.

General proficiency:

• The student should be able to analyze ethical dilemmas in health promotion and prevention.