This document offers an overview of various theoretical perspectives informing public health ethics, including its philosophical underpinnings.
In this second of three briefing notes on public health ethics, Dr. Marjorie MacDonald of the University of Victoria provides an overview of various philosophical and theoretical perspectives that have informed the development, evolution, and application of public health ethics throughout its short history. We believe it is important for public health practitioners to understand these ideas because they inform, either explicitly or implicitly, ethical decision making in public health practice. They also provide a foundation for the public health ethics frameworks that are presented and discussed in our third briefing note.
Introduction to Public Health Ethics 2: Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations
7 pages
This document is based on a previously published book chapter. We thank Pearson Canada for permission to adapt and publish the material from that chapter.
