DQ1
When is it ethically justifiable to mandate directly observed therapy (DOT)? What conditions need to be met? If health officials do mandate DOT, what can they do to reduce any imposed burdens?
DQ2
How can public health officials use the Public Health Code of Ethics, in guiding their decision making related to communicable disease control and prevention?
USEFUL NOTES
How can public health officials use the Public Health Code of Ethics, in guiding their decision making related to communicable disease control and prevention?
Introduction
The public health code of ethics is a set of principles that guides public health officials in their decision making. The code was first developed by the American Public Health Association in 1952, and has been updated several times since then. This article will discuss how public health officials should use the Public Health Code of Ethics when making decisions related to communicable disease control and prevention
How should public health officials frame their responsibility?
The first step for public health officials is to understand the scope of their responsibility. Public health officials have a duty to protect and promote the health of their community. They also have an obligation to treat all people equally, regardless of race, gender, age or sexual orientation.
Public health officials should be transparent in their decision making regarding infectious disease control and prevention policies so as not to exclude communities from services they need or deny access based on race or ethnicity (Borden & Margolis 2003).
What are the principles of ethics that guide public health officials?
The principles of ethics that guide public health officials are beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice.
Beneficence means doing good and promoting the well-being of individuals. Public health officials must act in ways that benefit their clients (the community or individuals) by providing health services when needed and doing no harm to others or themselves. Nonmaleficence means not causing harm or injury to another person—this includes diseases such as AIDS or tuberculosis (TB). Justice means treating people fairly according to their needs without regard for race, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation/identity/preference, socioeconomic status (SES), age group membership status etc…
What are the values that guide public health officials in their decision making?
Public health officials are guided by the values outlined in the Public Health Code of Ethics. These values include:
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Respect for human life;
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Respect for human dignity;
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Respect for the law;
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Equity and social justice;
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Scientific truth;
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Professional integrity
How to avoid ethical dilemmas.
If you are a public health official and want to avoid ethical dilemmas, it is important that you be aware of your biases. The Public Health Code of Ethics includes advice on how to avoid bias in decision making.
For example, if you are going to make a decision about whether or not to quarantine someone who has had contact with an infectious disease, think carefully before doing so because this could affect their right to freedom and security as well as their ability to access medical care. In addition, consider whether there are other ways that might be more effective at preventing further spread of infection (e.g., using social media).
Public Health Officials should use the Public Health Code of Ethics to help guide their decision making.
The Public Health Code of Ethics is a guide to ethical conduct for public health officials. It outlines the principles of ethics that guide public health officials in their decision-making processes, and it provides them with a framework for making difficult decisions.
The following are some examples of how the Public Health Code of Ethics can be used:
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When dealing with an outbreak or other public health issue, public health officials must consider all available information before taking any action (Principle 1).
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They should always seek input from stakeholders who have relevant knowledge about the situation (Principle 2).
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They should not share any confidential information without permission from those involved (Principle 3).
Conclusion
I hope this blog has helped you understand the importance of using the Public Health Code of Ethics when making decisions related to communicable disease control and prevention. You can find more information about the public health code of ethics at www.phcoei.org