2. ETHICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH

Ethics in public health

application of moral principles to ensure interventions respect human dignity, promote equity, and protect populations

Beneficence

obligation to promote health and prevent harm

Non-maleficence

obligation to avoid unnecessary harm, derived from primum non nocere

Justice

requirement to ensure fair access to health care and resources

Respect for autonomy

obligation to honor individuals’ rights and choices

Solidarity

promotion of collective responsibility in protecting public health

Common good

prioritization of shared societal welfare over individual interests

COVID-19 ethical issues

challenges involving vaccine distribution, quarantine protocols, and balancing public safety with individual rights

Vaccine distribution ethics

prioritization of vulnerable groups and frontliners

Quarantine protocols

public health measures raising ethical concerns regarding freedom and safety

K-12 health curriculum debate

ethical concerns regarding adolescent access to health information

Reproductive Health Law debate

ethical tension between public health goals and moral objections