Module 4: Law and Ethics in Public Health

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

Exercises

1. The law provides a mandate to identify the sexual partners of people who have a sexually transmitted disease, and then to find them, have them tested for infection, and treated if they are found to be infected. It would be within the law for a public health professional to act in a heavy-handed manner to achieve this task, demanding information and forcing reticent individuals to be tested and treated. What are some ethical principles from the Code of Ethics that would prevent a person from acting in such a way?

2. Some cigarette companies post their ads in convenience stores at eye level for children (below eye level for most adults). Some have argued that the companies are targeting youth with their products. Although the law does not forbid the posting of ads in this way, are there ethical principles that would suggest this way of advertising should stop?