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Abstract #148839

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Maria Sistrom, RN MSN PhDc, School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Sciences University, 3455 SW US Veterans' Hospital Rd, SN-4S, Portland, OR 97239, (503) 239-6081, sistromm@ohsu.edu

Public health is in need of new theory that incorporates determinants of population health and informs public health actions and policy (Krieger, 1996; McKinlay, 2000; Susser, 1998). Jonathon Mann, before his death in 1998, was the foremost proponent for applying a theoretical framework of human rights to public health. Application of international human rights domestically, however, is not simple or direct nor necessarily the best solution to the public health theory vacuum in the United States. Defining health as a human right is problematic. Civil rights appear to have salutary mortality effects in the U.S. And domestic law and particular forms of governance show relationships to population health that are directly relevant to public health systems. Given this, revitalization of Beauchamp (1988), Bellah (1985)and Wallack's “second language of public health” (2005, p. 567) and a theory of social justice as espoused by Hofrichter (2003) and Beauchamp (1999) might serve as more accessible theory of public health than Mann's human rights and health.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply human rights to the domestic public health context;
• Recognize relationships between human rights and civil rights;
• Analyze social justice as a model for civil rights improvements for health.

Keywords: Human Rights, Theory

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout