Public Health Ethics
Fall2015
Tuesdays and Fridays, 8.30 – 9.50
Location: F24-303
Instructors
Kirsten Hansen
Ph.D. (Public Health, University of Copenhagen, 2010). MA (Philosophy, University of Copenhagen,
2001). Special advisor at the Danish Health and Medicines Authority. With DIS since 2011.
Introduction
Decision-makers within health politics are increasingly dealing with ethical issues pertaining to public health (e.g. how
aggressive can health campaigns become before they are considered unethical? Are people with unhealthy lifestyles
responsible for their ailments? And is it better to allocate resources to young rather than old patients?). This course
addresses some of the most urgent ethical dilemmas of public health including justice and health, coercion and the
protection of society in case of infectious diseases, and the regulation of individuals’ lifestyles. In order to illustrate
these issues of public health ethics, different real world cases are included (e.g. smoking, immunization, and new
medical technologies).
Objectives
The primary objective of this course is to provide students with the appropriate tools for examining and discussing
fundamental questions in public health ethics. Students will obtain a thorough understanding of the major ethical
issues within prevention and health promotion, prioritization of scarce resources, and coercion and protection of
society.
Learning objectives
Having completed this course, students will have acquired an understanding of and the practical skill to deal with
ethical problems associated with health promotion, the allocation of scarce health resources and the protection of
society in times of epidemics.
Classroom activity
There will be brief lectures followed by discussions. The discussions, led by the professor, will take the form of a
facilitated dialogue between the professor and the students or group work followed by discussion. There will be
reading assignments for each class.
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Field studies
We plan on having two field studies this semester. Further information about these trips will be provided as the dates
approach. Unless otherwise stated we will meet at the field study venue at the time given. You can find the directions
on www.krak.dk, www.rejseplanen.dk, or get a map of the general Copenhagen area at the DIS Front Desk. Please
note that the field studies are part of the course and that there can be exam questions in what has been taught during
these field trips. Please remember to be on time and note that active participation is encouraged and expected during
the field studies.
Course evaluation
To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work.
The evaluation of the course is divided into the following parts:
Assigned work
Percentage of final grade
Due dates
48 hours essay exam written in groups of 3
students
One paper worked out in groups including an
oral presentation
20%
A two hour written final exam
Participation
20%
25%
Available on Forum: Oct 13 at 8:30
Hand in by email: Oct 15 at 8:30
Outline: October 6 at 23:59
Paper: November 24 at 23:59
Presentations: November 27 and
December 1
December 8, 9:00 – 11:00
35%
- 20% paper
- 15% oral presentation
Below you can read more about the individual parts.
48 hours essay exam
The 48 hours essay exam is written in groups of 2-3 students. The exam will be uploaded to Forum 8:30 on the day of,
and is submitted by email two days later.
Each paper must contain:
 An introduction
 A statement describing the problem the paper is addressing
 A conclusion
Further subheadings are allowed.
Outline, Paper and presentations
The outline and paper are written in groups of 2-3 students.
The outline should be max one page with a thesis or a research question and a description of the principal arguments
in the discussion the paper addresses. The paper should be 10-12 pages. Presentations are scheduled for November
27 and December 1 in class.
2 hour final exam
The final exam consists of 10 questions each accounting for 10 % of the total grade for the final exam.
Participation
Participation covers the following areas:
 Level of preparation and ability to answer questions asked in class
 Involvement in class, group discussions and field studies
 Results from 1-2 pop quizzes
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In order to participate, students are required to do all readings. The course draws upon a number of sources of
information. Readings comprise extracts from textbooks, articles from journals, handouts, news clips and information
from various web sites.
Questions and feedback
If you have questions to the readings, lectures, or assignments, you are always welcome to contact us by email.
Alternatively you can email program assistant, Philippa Carey, to setup an appointment or ask a question. You may
also contact assistant program director, Louise Iversen. They can both be found in the Science and Health office in
Vestergade 10B-12.
Attendance
You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled, and we will actively monitor attendance. Allowances will
be made in cases of illness, but you will need to email Kirsten in advance. If you miss multiple classes, the Director of
Academic Support, and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified and they will follow-up with you to make sure
that all is well.
Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment
DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes
that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result
in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The student’s home universities will be notified. DIS reserves
the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism
detection software. See the Academic Handbook on DIS Forum for more information, or ask your instructor if you
have questions.
Disability Resources
Any student who has a need for disability accommodations should contact Sean Green to coordinate this. Upon DIS
approval, students should inform the instructor of accommodations within the first 2 weeks of class.
Laptop Policy
In order to enhance the dialogue and discussion in class, and to ensure that all students are attentive, students are not
permitted to utilize laptops in class.
DIS Forum
The DIS Forum is a web-based Blackboard system that allows you to access resources for your classes and
communicate with your classmates and teachers. You have been automatically enrolled in certain groups for each
class, as well as the student groups that have more social resources about trips, etc. In your class page for Public
Health Ethics you can find your syllabus and extra readings under resources. Announcements will be posted with
relevant information on the front page and emails can also be directed toward you from this page regarding the class.
To access the DIS Forum, you can go to the DIS homepage and click the ‘DIS Forum’ link, or go to: forum.disabroad.org
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Semester Overview of Class Schedule
Lect.
1
Date
Fri, Aug 21
Topic
Introduction to course
and to Public Health
Readings
None
2
Tue, Aug
25
Ethical Theory –
Consequentialism
- Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 1: 'Consequentialism',
Polity Press 2015
Field
study
Wed, Aug
26
3
Fri, Aug 28
Movie Screening
Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare
Location: Husets Biograf, Rådhusstræde 13, 1466 København K
Time: 13:00-16:00
Ethical Theory – Nonconsequentialism
- Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 2: ‘Non-consequentialism’,
Polity Press 2015
*Election of Class Representatives*
4
Tue, Sep 1
Political Philosophy liberalism
- Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 3: ‘Liberal Political
Philosophy', Polity Press 2015.
5
Fri, Sep 4
Political Philosophy –
beyond traditional
liberalism
- Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 4: 'Beyond Traditional
Liberalism', Polity Press 2015.
Sep 7-11
6
Tue, Sep
15
Core Course Week
No class
Individual Responsibility
for Health
- Cappelen & Norheim, 2005, Responsibility in health care: a liberal
egalitarian approach, J Med Ethics 2005;31:476-480
- Conly, S. 2013, Three Cheers for the Nanny State, New York Times.
Guest speaker:
Sigurd Lauridsen
7
Fri, Sep 18
Epidemiology
Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 5: 'Epidemiology', Polity
Press 2015,
8
Tue, Sep
22
Fri, Sep 25
Sources of Financing
- WHO, 2002, Policy brief: Funding health care for Europe
Initial Group Formation
& Workshop on Writing
an Ethical Paper
None
9
Sep 27 –
Oct 2
Long study tour/travel break
No class
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10
Tue, Oct 6
Public or Private
Healthcare
- Daley, Danes Rethink a Welfare State Ample to a Fault (2013), New
York Times.
- Sanders, What can we learn from Denmark (2013), Huffington Post
- Daniels, Norman. Health-care needs, 19-32, Just Health, 1985,
Cambridge University Press.
*Submit Outline for paper by email to Kirsten, and Philippa no
later than 23:59*
11
Fri, Oct 9
12
Tue, Oct
13
13
Fri, Oct 16
Workshop: Outline for
Papers
Midterm: 48 hour written essay exam
Available on Forum: Tuesday, October 13, 8:30
Hand in by email: Thursday, October 15, 8:30
Priority Setting and the
Rule of Rescue
Oct 18-23
-John McKie and Jeff Richardson, The rule of rescue, Social Science &
Medicine. Volume 56 (12), 2003, Pages 2407-2419.
Long study tour/travel break
No class
14
Tue, Oct
27
Concepts of health
- Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 6: 'Health concepts and
promotion', Polity Press 2015.
15
Fri, Oct 30
Behavior modification
- Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 7: 'Health Promotion as
Behaviour Modification', Polity Press 2015.
16
Tue, Nov 3
Smoking and the New
Morality
- Leichter, HM. Lifestyle Correctness and the New Secular Morality in
Morality and Health, pp. 359 – 379, eds. Brandt, A. & Rozin P.
Routledge 1997.
Guest speaker:
Rasmus Kristensen,
Philip Morris
17
Fri, Nov 6
Harm reduction
Nov 9-13
18
Tue, Nov
17
- Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 8: 'Harm reduction', Polity
Press 2015.
Travel break
No class
Immunization
- Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 9: 'Immunization', Polity
Press 2015.
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Field
Study
Wed, Nov
18
19
Fri, Nov 20
The Danish Council of Ethics
Location: Holbergsgade 6, 1057 København K
Exact Time: TBA (8:30-12:30)
Speaker: Project manager Morten Andreasen
Doping and ethics
None
Guest speaker:
Thomas Søbirk Petersen
20
Tue, Nov
24
Screening
- Holland, S. Public Health Ethics, chapter 10: 'Screening', Polity
Press 2015
*Submit paper by email to Kirsten, and Philippa no later than
23:59*
21
Fri, Nov 27
Oral presentations of
papers
22
Tue, Dec 1
Oral presentations of
papers
23
Fri, Dec 4
Final wrap-up session
Dec 8
Final Exam
Time: 9:00 – 11:00
Location: TBA
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