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Selected Topics - Ethics
 The WWW Virtual Library: Public Health
Categories
Studies on Ethics at UNSW
Events
Global policies and related documents
Reports, guidelines and projects
- Bioethical Implications of Globalization: An International Consortium Project of the European Commission
Published in PLOS Medicine, this article outlines the Bioethical Implications of Globalization (BIG) project, a 42 months provisional project that aims to anticipate the major reasons for bioethical concern surrounding globalisation, to forecast future scenarios and to formulate new policy options in this field. The project’s purpose is both to raise short-term, tactical considerations and to provide a longer-term, strategic perspective.
- Bulletin of the World Health Organization Volume 86, Number 8, August 2008
This month’s special theme is ethics and public health. In the first editorial, Carl H Coleman et al. discuss the key issues in public-health ethics and how WHO incorporates ethics into its mission. In the second, John Krebs presents the ethical dilemma involved in balancing individual rights with government intervention. In the third, Cristina P Pinheiro questions the ethics of drug donations and proposes alternative aid solutions. Articles: ‘The contribution of ethics to public health’ by Carl H Coleman et al.; ‘The importance of public-health ethics’ by John Krebs; ‘Drug donations: what lies beneath’ by Cristina P Pinheiro; ‘Using human rights to improve maternal and neonatal health: history, connections and a proposed practical approach’ by Sofia Gruskin et al.; ‘Herbal medicine research and global health: an ethical analysis’ by Jon C Tilburt & Ted J Kaptchu; ‘Denaturalizing scarcity: a strategy of enquiry for public-health ethics’ by Ted Schrecker; ‘Integrating ethics, health policy and health systems in low- and middle-income countries: case studies from Malaysia and Pakistan’ by Adnan A Hyder et al.; ‘Demographic and health surveillance: longitudinal ethical considerations’ by Margaret Carrel & Stuart Rennie; ‘Ethical analysis to improve decision-making on health technologies’ by Samuli I Saarni et al.; ‘A personalist approach to public-health ethics’ by Carlo Petrini & Sabina Gainotti; ‘National bioethical legislation and guidelines for biomedical research in the Islamic Republic of Iran’ by Farzaneh Zahedi & Bagher Larijani; ‘Health-sector responses to intimate partner violence in low- and middle-income settings: a review of current models, challenges and opportunities’ by Manuela Colombini et al.; ‘Emerging norms for the control of emerging epidemics’ by Christopher W McDougall et al.; ‘The burden of surgical conditions and access to surgical care in low- and middle-income countries’ by Doruk Ozgediz et al.; and ‘Access to medicines versus access to treatment: the case of type 1 diabetes’ by David Beran et al.
- Environmental Ethics and Public Policy Program
Part of the Center for the Study of Values in Public life at the Harvard Divinity School , this program examines the issue of environmental ethics through seminars, courses and subject bibliographies.
- Establishing Bioethics Committees - Guide No.1
This UNESCO publication is intended to provide a number of suggestions after having reviewed the efforts of many Member States that have already established Bioethics Committees at the national, regional, or local levels. The need to reflect on the moral dimension of advances in science and technology, as well as the desire to enhance the public’s health has, in many areas of the world, led to the establishment of various forms of Bioethics Committees, four of which are described and discussed in this Guide.
- Ethical Choices in Long-Term Care: What does Justice require?
This PDF document published by WHO examines the ethical issues associated with providing long-term care to people with some sort of limitation. It recognises that all people including those with disabilities have the right to function as fully as their condition permits, regardless of their starting place.
- Ethical issues in epidemiological research and public health practice
"A rich and growing body of literature has emerged on ethics in epidemiologic research and public health practice. Recent articles have included conceptual frameworks of public health ethics and overviews of historical developments in the field. Several important topics in public health ethics have also been highlighted. Attention to ethical issues can facilitate the effective planning, implementation, and growth of a variety of public health programs and research activities. ...Published in Emerging Themes in Epidemiology 3:16, 2006 this article by Steven S Coughlin provides an overview of ethical issues in epidemiologic research and public health practice for readers who do not necessarily have an in-depth knowledge of public health ethics."
- Ethics and governance of global health inequalities
Research Aim: To study why global health inequalities are morally troubling, why efforts to reduce them are morally justified, how they should be measured and evaluated; how much priority disadvantaged groups should receive; and to delineate roles and responsibilities of national and international actors and institutions. Discussion and conclusions: Duties and obligations of international and state actors in reducing global health inequalities are outlined. The ethical principles endorsed include the intrinsic value of health to well-being and equal respect for all human life, the importance of health for individual and collective agency, the concept of a shortfall from the health status of a reference group, and the need for a disproportionate effort to help disadvantaged groups. This approach does not seek to find ways in which global and national actors address global health inequalities by virtue of their self-interest, national interest, collective security or humanitarian assistance. It endorses the more robust concept of "human flourishing" and the desire to live in a world where all people have the capability to be healthy. Unlike cosmopolitan theory, this approach places the role of the nation-state in the forefront with primary, though not sole, moral responsibility. Rather, shared health governance is essential for delivering health equity on a global scale.
- Ethics, Development and Disaster
Text of keynote address delivered by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen at the Ethics and Development Day of the Inter-American Development Bank on January 11, 2005 as part of the Inter-American Initiative on Social Capital, Ethics and Development.
- Is There a Global Bioethics? End-of-Life in Thailand and the Case for Local Difference
Over the past decade, several scholars have advocated for international standards in medical ethics and human rights. Others have countered that such standards risk ignoring important cultural differences in the way people conceptualize medical decision-making. This essay, published in PLoS Medicine Vol.2, Iss. 10, 2006 explores possible answers to these questions, ultimately arguing that Western bioethics is insufficient to solve the problems that arise in the practice of allopathic medicine in non-Western contexts.
- Program on Legal and Ethical Issues in Correctional Health
This program at the University of Texas focuses on the complex legal and ethical issues involved in the delivery of health care in correctional facilities, such as prisons, jails and juvenile detention facilities.
- Public health: ethical issues
“In this Report the authors consider some of the ethical issues that arise from efforts to improve health at the population level, and we examine the roles and responsibilities of the different parties involved. Although some might see personal behaviour as the primary factor determining the health of the population, we consider that to be too simplistic. Individual behaviour certainly plays a role, but health is influenced by many factors, such as clean air, the built and work environment, socio-economic and genetic background, and access to healthcare. Industries such as those producing, selling and marketing food, drink and tobacco also play an important role, and the impact of almost all these factors is influenced directly or indirectly by government policy.”
- The Declaration of Helsinki and public health
This paper “looks back on a ground-breaking contribution to public health, reproduces an extract of the original text and adds a commentary on its significance from a modern perspective. … John R Williams looks at the Declaration of Helsinki and how it has evolved over time. The original declaration is reproduced here in full with permission of the World Medical Association.” [ Bulletin of the World Health Organization, August 2008, 86 (8): 650-652]
- The Voluntary Code of Ethical Conduct for the Recruitment of Foreign-Educated Nurses to the United States
"The Voluntary Code of Ethical Conduct for the Recruitment of Foreign-Educated Nurses to the United States (the Code) reflects the mutual recognition of stakeholder interests relevant to the recruitment of foreign educated nurses (FENs) to the United States. It is based on an acknowledgement of the rights of individuals to migrate, as well as an understanding that the legitimate interests and responsibilities of nurses, source countries, and employers in the destination country may conflict. It affirms that a careful balancing of those individual and collective interests offers the best course for maximizing the benefits and reducing the potential harm to all parties. While the Code acknowledges the interests of these three primary stakeholder groups, its subscribers are the organizations that recruit and employ foreign educated nurses, e.g., third party recruiting firms, staffing agencies, hospitals, long-term care organizations and health systems."
- Whose hands on your genes?
This discussion document on the storage, protection and the use of personal genetic information was published by the UK Human Genetics Commission in 2000.
- Virulent Epidemics and the Scope of Healthcare Workers' Duty of Care
This article published in Emerging Infectious Diseases Vol.12, No.8; August 2006 critically examines the concept of duty of care as it relates to health care workers in epidemic situations.
Educational resources
- Bioethics Resources on the Web
This website from the National Institutes of Health (USA) contains a broad collage of annotated web links dealing with Bioethics issues.
- Ethics and Humanities Links
A Resource Page of the Program in Society and Medicine, The University of Michigan
- Growth House
An international gateway to resources for life-threatening illness and end of life issues.
- Genethics
This site administered by Bryn Williams-Jones, a fellow in Ethics and Research Associate at Cardiff University, serves as a "clearing house for information on the social, ethical and policy issues associated with genetic and genomic knowledge and technology" .
- Human Genome Project Information- Ethical, Legal and Social Issues
This site examines the social, ethical and legal issues surrounding the availability of human genetic information associated with the Human Genome Project.
- International Communication Forum in Human Molecular Genetics
This page provides a forum for scientists, physicians and other genetics professionals worldwide to communicate the latest information in human molecular genetics.
- National Human Genome Research Institute Information Kit
This multimedia education kit, first launched in 2001 by the Human Genome Project, is aimed at high school students and the general public. It includes a project timeline, essays on the legal and ethical implications of the project as well as a 3D computer-animated video illustrating the basic components and principles of molecular biology and a 15-minute video documentary, 'The Secrets of Our Lives', that weaves together conversations with HGP leaders to trace the development of the project and to address its scientific and societal impact.
Organisations and Networks
UN and multinational
- UNESCO, International Bioethics Committee
UNESCO's Bioethics programme serves as an intellectual forum to examine the social, cultural, legal and ethical implications of stem cell research, genetic testing, cloning and other breakthroughs in the life sciences and to formulate bioethics policy in response.
Government
- Human Genome Research
This US Department of Energy site provides an overview of the Human Genome Project and its vast implications for agriculture, medicine etc.,
Non Government
- American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH)
A professional society of individuals, organizations, and institutions interested in bioethics and humanities
- American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics (ASLME)
The aim of this society is to provide high-quality scholarship, debate, and critical thought to the community of professionals at the intersection of law, health care, policy, and ethics.
- Center for Bioethics
An interdisciplinary, interprofessional unit of the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia. The Center's mission is to advance scholarly and public understanding of ethical, legal, social and public policy issues in health care.
- Center for Clinical Ethics and Humanities in Health Care
Located at State University of New York at Buffalo, provides resources on bio-ethics including the database BIOETHICS
- Center for Health Ethics and Law
Located at the West Virginia University (USA), the Center is affiliated with the professional schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy of the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center.
- Centre for Professional Ethics
The Centre is a research and teaching institution at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. Its focus is applied philosophy, particularly in bioethics and environmental ethics.
- Council for Responsible Genetics
A non-profit organization based in the USA
- Eubios Ethics Institute
A non-profit group based in Japan that aims to stimulate the international discussion of ethical issues and technology development. It aims at an integrated and cross cultural approach to bioethics and at building up an international network.
- Global Lawyers and Physicians: Working Together for Human Rights
A non-profit , non-governmental organisation focusing on health and human rights issues.
- Human Genome Organization (HUGO)
An international organisation of scientists involved in human genetics
- Indigenous Peoples' Council on Biocolonialism
The IPCB is organized to assist indigenous peoples in the protection of their genetic resources, indigenous knowledge, cultural and human rights from the negative effects of biotechnology.
- International Association of Bioethics
The International Association of Bioethics aims to link all those working in bioethics and related fields facilitating mutual contact and encouraging the discussion of cross-cultural aspects in bioethics.
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)
ICGEB is an international organisation established to promote the safe use of biotechnology world wide with special regard to the needs of the developing world. ICGEB aims to be a research and training Centre of Excellence for its member states.
- John Dosseter Centre for Bioethics
A joint project of the Faculties of Medicine and Nursing (University of Alberta) and the Capital Health Authority (University of Alberta Hospital Site) an interdisciplinarian, non-sectarian project encompassing medicine, nursing, dentistry, law, philosophy and theology.
- National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
The leading coordinating body of the Human Genome Project
- Nordic Committee on Bioethics
"The Committee sets out to promote Nordic collaboration and the exchange of information between researchers, scientists, parliamentarians and opinion formers on ethical aspects of biotechnology research, development and adaptation."
- Stanford Human Genome Centre
This Center consists of around 50 researchers working on several large scale genomics projects including genomic DNA sequence finishing, full length DNA sequencing, large multi-group genetic studies and genome wide gene expression studies.
- The (Alberta) Provincial Health Ethics Network, Alberta
The mission of PHEN is to facilitate examination, discussion and decision-making with respect to ethical issues in health care in the Province of Alberta and to provide a linkage for Albertans needing health ethics assistance and to those interested and involved in health care ethics.
- University of Pittsburgh Center for Biosecurity
The Center works to prevent the development and use of biological weapons, to catalyse advances in science and governance that diminish the power of biological weapons as agents of mass lethality, and to lessen the illness, death and civil disruption that would result if prevention efforts fail.
Academic Institutions with particular focus in this area
Key Conferences, conference and workshop reports
Coming conferences
Conference reports
Journals, Newsletters, Forums
- American Journal of Bioethics
- Public Health Ethics
Public Health Ethics (PHE) is a peer-reviewed international journal with a focus on the systematic analysis of the moral problems that arise in public health and preventive medicine. PHE combines theoretical and practical work from many different fields, notably philosophy, law, and politics, but also epidemiology and the medical sciences.
Bibliographies, Libraries
Public health bookshops
Original website founded Lucien E. Schlosser and Eberhard Wenzel, 1997.
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