Module 1: Distinguishing Public Health Ethics from Medical Ethics

| Introduction | Presentation | Readings | Exercises | References | Evaluation |

Introduction

Ethics in medicine has been studied longer and is more developed than ethics in public health. But principles of medical ethics do not provide the needed direction for common ethical situations in public health.

Using a case study of a water fluoridation debate in a California county, this module presents: the relationship between theoretical and practical ethics; the application of medical ethics to the fluoridation debate; and then the application of public health ethics to the fluoridation debate.

Learning objectives:

• Describe the common practice settings from which medical ethics and public health ethics emerge.
• Explain "the tyranny of the majority."
• Explain why the medical ethics principle of autonomy does not work as well in public health.

Length of presentation:

35 minutes