Until recently, the ethical nature of public health has been implicitly assumed rather than explicitly stated. While medical institutions have been more explicit about the ethical elements of their practice, the concerns of public health are not fully consonant with those of medicine. Thus, the principles of medical ethics cannot be simply translated to public health.
At the year 2000 APHA conference, members of the Public Health Leadership Society (PHLS) Public Health Ethics Workgroup presented to a group of people representing several public health institutions (including APHA)a proposal for developing a code of ethics for public health. According to the plan developed at that meeting, a draft code will be presented by the PHLS Public Health Ethics Workgroup at the year 2001 APHA conference. The draft code will be open for discussion and critique, with the intent of producing a revised code to be presented for official adoption at a later date.
Learning Objectives: Participants in this session should leave with an understanding of: 1. The need for and potential impact of a code of ethics in public health. 2. The rationale for the development of a code of ethics. 3. The process for development of the draft code. 4. The content of the proposed code and suggestions for improvement. 5. The next steps leading to acceptance of the code.
Keywords: Ethics, Public Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.