Public Health Ethics
Ethics
• Principles and rules for behavior and duty
• Basic guide for deciding right and wrong
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Objectives
• Define your responsibilities in maintaining
public trust.
• Identify strategies for handling problematic
situations in an ethical and professional way.
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Why Does the Public NOT
Trust Government?
In the next 3-5 minutes:
Break into small groups or find a
partner.
Brainstorm and record a list of
reasons why the public may not
trust government.
Share with class.
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You are government….
• Responsibilities
• Authorities
• Burdens
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Public Trust
• Public service
• Respect and confidence of the public
• Loyalty to the law above private gain
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APHA Code of Ethics
• Adopted in 2002
• Balancing individual and public rights
• Guide for tough decisions
http://www.apha.org/codeofethics/
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The Tuskegee Experiment
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Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome, SARS
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What Would You Do?
Gifts
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What Would You Do?
Conflict of
Interest
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What Would You Do?
Confidentiality
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What Would You Do?
PH
Citizen
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What Would You Do?
Favors
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What Would You Do?
Research
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Why follow ethical standards?
• Avoid criminal or administrative penalties
• Protect the reputation of your agency
• Protect your own personal and professional
reputation
Ethical behavior is seldom rewarded, but
unethical behavior is rarely ignored.
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What are ethical conflicts you
may potentially face in your
position?
In the next 3 minutes:
Write down 1-3 examples of
potential ethical conflicts that you
foresee or have already
experienced in public health.
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Finally, ask yourself the
following questions:
Is it ethical?
Is it legal?
How would I feel if
my family, friends,
or co-workers
were to read of
my actions in
tomorrow’s
newspaper?
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