course materials

1. Healthcare: The Role of Ethics in Public Health Policy Analysis Essay
Healthcare: The Role of Ethics in Public Health Policy Analysis Essay ON Healthcare: The
Role of Ethics in Public Health Policy Analysis EssayAt that time, relatively little was known
about HIV and AIDS; speculation and fear were common. Believing that Ryan’s presence
posed a health risk to other children, parents and teachers pressured the principal and
school board to keep him out of school. A lengthy legal battle ensued. The Indiana State
Health Commissioner and the Centers for Disease Control assured the community that HIV
could not be transmitted through casual contact. Yet, even after Ryan was readmitted to
school, he was required to eat with disposable utensils and use a separate bathroom. Ryan
and his family were ostracized and continued to receive death threats until they moved
away. At his new school in Cicero, Indiana, Ryan received a much warmer welcome from
staff and students who had been educated about HIV/AIDS prior to his arrival. Healthcare:
The Role of Ethics in Public Health Policy Analysis EssayRising through these tremendous
difficulties, Ryan White and his family became highly regarded advocates, bringing national
attention to the need for public health education and lessening the stigma associated with
HIV and AIDS. After Ryan’s death in 1990, congress enacted The Ryan White Comprehensive
AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, which has been reauthorized several times. The
legislation created the largest federally funded program solely for people affected by
HIV/AIDS; over the years, adjustments have been made to keep pace with evolving
priorities, although the program retains its focus on promoting access to care for those who
may not be able to afford it.Ryan White’s story illustrates many of the ethical dilemmas that
surround public health policy. For instance:How should public health leaders adhere to the
principle of “do no harm” when a health syndrome is not well understood by the public, or
even by many health care professionals?When, if ever, is it permissible to “hurt the few” (in
this case, by denying individual rights and dignity) to “save the many”?Is health care a right
or a privilege? Should legislation be enacted to provide care to those who cannot afford
it?When, if ever, is it acceptable to devote government funds to address one issue (e.g.,
HIV/AIDS-related research, treatment, and education) as opposed to other issues that
would also benefit from funding?Today, new ethical dilemmas related to the global health
epidemic of HIV/AIDS, as well as other public health issues, continue to emerge. Those who
wish to shape public health policy must be able to learn from the past, examine the context
surrounding an issue, and anticipate potential questions and ethical concerns.This week,
you examine the role of ethics in public health policy. In the Discussion, you assess potential
ethical issues related to a specific public health issue. Also this week, you begin working on

2. the final component of your Scholar-Practitioner Project: the Advocacy Pitch.Analyze
potential ethical dilemmas in public health issuesApply ethical theories, morals, and
principles to public health issues and interventionsCreate advocacy pitches for public health
issuesLearning ObjectivesStudents will:Analyze potential ethical dilemmas in public health
issuesApply ethical theories, morals, and principles to public health issues and
interventionsCreate advocacy pitches for public health issuesLearning ResourcesNote: To
access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course
Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.REQUIRED
READINGSBhattacharya, D. (2013). Public health policy: Issues, theories, and advocacy. San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Chapter 5, “The Role of Ethics: Historical, Contemporary, and
Future Perspectives” (pp.141–178)Borza, C., Rahot?, D., Mihalache, G., Buha?, C., & Cârjan, F.
(2013). The ethical qualities of a leader in public health and preventive medicine. Romanian
Journal of Functional & Clinical, Macro- & Microscopical Anatomy & of
Anthropology/Revista Româna de Anatomie Functionala si Clinica, Macro si Microscopica si
de Antropologie, 12(2), 154–156.Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library
databases.Damnariu, C. D. (2012). General principles of ethics in public health. Acta Medica
Transilvanica, 17(1), 145–146.Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Lane, C.
H., & Carter, M. I. (2012). The role of evidence-based media advocacy in the promotion of
tobacco control policies. Salud Pública de México , 54(3), 281–288.Note: Retrieved from the
Walden Library databases.Lee, L. M. (2012). Public health ethics theory: Review and path to
convergence. Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics, 40(1), 85–98.Note: Retrieved from the
Walden Library databases.Pierce, M. W., Maman, S., Groves, A. K., King, E. J., & Wyckoff, S. C.
(2011). Testing public health ethics: Why the CDC’s HIV screening recommendations may
violate the least infringement principle. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 39(2), 263–
271.Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Document: Advocacy Pitches: A
Primer (PDF)Review this document along with the documents within the Kaltura Media
Uploader page on the course navigation menu in order to prepare for your Advocacy Pitch
assignment due in Week 10Discussion: Ethical Dilemmas in Public Health PolicyThe
Tuskegee Syphilis Study stands as a cautionary tale of the harm that can result from
unethical practices or negligence in public health.In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service, in
collaboration with the Tuskegee Institute, initiated a study of syphilis, which was a major
health problem at the time. The study involved hundreds of poor, African-American
sharecroppers, many of whom unknowingly had syphilis. In 1972, a multidisciplinary
advisory panel reviewed the study; they halted the research after concluding that
researchers failed to receive informed consent and did not give study participants proper
treatment, even after penicillin became widely accepted as an effective medication for the
illness. The panel called the study “ethically unjustified” because of the risks to its
subjects.In the years since the study ended, the federal government and Tuskegee
University have tried to repair the tremendous damage that occurred—damage measured
by the loss of many lives (of study participants, as well as their wives and children who
contracted syphilis) and the ensuing mistrust of government-led programs. The legacy of
this study has caused many people to question when, if ever, it is acceptable to “do bad for
the good of many” and sparked discussion about what can be done to promote ethical

3. decision-making in public health.In this Discussion, you examine ethics as a guidepost for all
public health decisions and analyze ethical implications for the public health issue and
intervention you have selected for your Scholar-Practitioner Project.To prepare for this
Discussion, review Chapter 5 in the course text. Then, reflect on your public health issue and
recommended intervention. What role might ethics play in regard to your issue and
intervention? What ethical dilemmas may arise? How might you address such dilemmas?BY
DAY 4Post ethical dilemmas that may arise as you approach your public health issue and
recommended intervention and why. Then, explain how you might address these dilemmas
by applying ethical theories, morals, and principles. your post with the Learning Resources
and peer-reviewed sources.Healthcare: The Role of Ethics in Public Health Policy Analysis
Essay