Public Health

Reply to Discussion- 250-275 words, APA format, requires sources

Coexistence of Ethics and Policies in Public Health
Ethical principles and policies that form the basis for public health laws can coexist mutually and simultaneously. Public health laws are often based on the public health policies and ethics of the country. They are formulated around the needs of the people (Callahan & Jennings, 2002). These needs change depending on the political and socioeconomic situation of a country. For instance, in the United States of America, public health policies are meant to protect the rights of every individual to access healthcare and to be protected against infectious diseases. Ethical principles surrounding public health are also meant for the good of the people. Principles such as individual autonomy, right to privacy, and the right to access basic needs such as health care, food, and shelter are important in safeguarding the physical and mental health of the people.

Public health is tied to social justice. According to Fokunang et al. (2013), the policies that guide public health are tied to the rights of the people. When a population faces disparities in access to public health resources such as lack of access to health facilities or lack of access to clean water and nutrition, this can be termed as social injustice. For most people living below poverty level, social injustice has played a part in their lack of basic needs. Factors such as poor political climates and corruption lead to poverty, which in turn lead to a public health crisis. The laws guiding public health are meant to protect the vulnerable groups from injustices that compromise their health
Ethical principles guide on how laws are made and enforced. Ethics such as the need for a person’s privacy in healthcare is protected by the law in doctor-patient confidentiality. These laws protect people from stigma associated to illnesses and give the patient the privacy to make personal choices without the interference of the other parties. Therefore, ethics and policies coexist with public health laws to protect the public’s interests.

References
Callahan, D., & Jennings, B. (2002). Ethics and public health: forging a strong relationship. American journal of public health, 92(2), 169-176.
Fokunang, C. N., Tembe-Fokunang, E. A., Awah, P., Ngounoue, M. D., Chi, P. C., Ateudjieu, J., … & Abena, O. M. T. (2013). The Role of Ethics in Public Health Clinical Research. In Current Topics in Public Health. IntechOpen.less0Unread0Replies0Views