Some Ethical Reflections in Public Health

Abstract

The concept, and therefore definition, of “health” and “public health” have evolved in time. This chapter analyzes briefly some of the most important interpretations of these concepts and their philosophical basis. It is also important to understand the different objectives and approaches involved in health promotion and disease prevention . In fact, public health differs under many aspects from clinical medical activity. Public health interventions are influenced by the ethical basis from which they derive. It is therefore important and useful to comprehend and be able to identify some of the most common ethical approaches found in public health along with their different parameters of reference. The chapter uses vaccinations, an important instrument of public health, as a practical example for a more in-depth analysis of the ethical aspects involved. Before commencing any public health intervention, it is important to understand the complexity and centrality of communication in public health. When dealing with health communication, it also becomes necessary to reflect on the two different levels of responsibility involved in determining health and disease: individual and collective. Finally, in the light of public health as a “common good,” the chapter identifies four different models of justice which can be applied in public health, determining different forms of intervention and therefore also different possible final results for the individual and society.