Narrowing the Gap Through Attention to Values and Ethics in Public Health Risk Assessment
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Start Date
23-6-2008 8:00 AM
End Date
23-6-2008 9:00 AM
Keywords:
Health Disparate, Minority and Vulnerable Populations, Healthcare Disparities, Ethics, Public Health, Risk Assessment, American Indian or Alaska Native
Description
Gaps or disparities in health and health care have been widening. The divide between rich and poor people continues to grow in parallel with disparities in health. The prospect of a world in which disparities become history is the ideal under the ethical principle of "distributive justice" ( or, "equity"). The role of professionals in perpetuating disparities or in reducing them is discussed, and the notion of professional standards of conduct is presented. Unless professionals are educated about the foundations of ethical conduct and the fact that "ethics" is rooted in values, the prospect of their protecting the public interest over any other interest is not likely because they will not be able to present rational argument to distinguish good from bad professional conduct. The fact that ethical conduct is context-related bears directly on ethics applied in the health field. For, the ethical health researcher, practitioner, or provider needs to obey the law of the land. And, where these laws are in conflict with professional norms of good conduct, the professional must work to alter the laws that inhibit ethical conduct. In any country, law constrains that which constitutes professional conduct. In particular, in a country founded on libertarian values, as is the case in the United States, the social context and legal frameworks have a direct bearing on the ability of the health professional to conduct themselves in ways that serve the public interest over other interests. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" derive from the Declaration of Independence, adopted in 177 6, and are deemed among the inalienable rights of US citizens. The individual dominates under Libertarian Theory, such that taxation for the common good is not deemed a virtue; "survival of the fittest" would be a more consistent response under libertarian theory, just as we see acted out today. On the other hand, Canada was founded on egalitarian values. "Peace, order and good government" derive from the Constitution Act of 1867 (the British North America Act). In Canada, it is expected that the health professional will uphold the principle of equality. The community is the greater concern. So, the challenge for Americans is to find a way to interpret libertarian values in a way that those less fortunate have equal access to health, consistent with what those who have the means can afford.
Recommended Citation
Soskolne, Colin Ph.D, F.A.C.P, "Narrowing the Gap Through Attention to Values and Ethics in Public Health Risk Assessment" (2008). Disparities in Health in America Workshop: Celebrating Scholar Entrepreneurs Working Towards Social Justice. 2.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/dhaw/2008/disparitiesandethics/2
Short Bio, Abstract, and Presentation Slide Deck
Narrowing the Gap Through Attention to Values and Ethics in Public Health Risk Assessment
Gaps or disparities in health and health care have been widening. The divide between rich and poor people continues to grow in parallel with disparities in health. The prospect of a world in which disparities become history is the ideal under the ethical principle of "distributive justice" ( or, "equity"). The role of professionals in perpetuating disparities or in reducing them is discussed, and the notion of professional standards of conduct is presented. Unless professionals are educated about the foundations of ethical conduct and the fact that "ethics" is rooted in values, the prospect of their protecting the public interest over any other interest is not likely because they will not be able to present rational argument to distinguish good from bad professional conduct. The fact that ethical conduct is context-related bears directly on ethics applied in the health field. For, the ethical health researcher, practitioner, or provider needs to obey the law of the land. And, where these laws are in conflict with professional norms of good conduct, the professional must work to alter the laws that inhibit ethical conduct. In any country, law constrains that which constitutes professional conduct. In particular, in a country founded on libertarian values, as is the case in the United States, the social context and legal frameworks have a direct bearing on the ability of the health professional to conduct themselves in ways that serve the public interest over other interests. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" derive from the Declaration of Independence, adopted in 177 6, and are deemed among the inalienable rights of US citizens. The individual dominates under Libertarian Theory, such that taxation for the common good is not deemed a virtue; "survival of the fittest" would be a more consistent response under libertarian theory, just as we see acted out today. On the other hand, Canada was founded on egalitarian values. "Peace, order and good government" derive from the Constitution Act of 1867 (the British North America Act). In Canada, it is expected that the health professional will uphold the principle of equality. The community is the greater concern. So, the challenge for Americans is to find a way to interpret libertarian values in a way that those less fortunate have equal access to health, consistent with what those who have the means can afford.
