The aim of this module is to provide an overview of the critical ethical issues in public health, health policy, and health care management, as well as their legal frameworks and context in local and international health. The module will also explore emerging ethical structures for public health policy and health management. Students with be provided with the knowledge and skills to identify ethical and legal issues within healthcare policies, as ascertaining how to balance the trade-offs between individual or human rights and public goods, with the goal of achieving healthy populations. This module will also examine the mechanisms and challenges of healthcare rationing when addressing the needs of particular population groups.
Students will employ case studies within group discussions and apply student learning to different public health settings and issues. Some of the case studies to be explored will include but are not limited to the following: smoking control policy, scourge of obesity, pandemic influenza, involuntary treatment for mental illness, reproductive health, vaccination policy, cancer screening, social media, cyberbullying and social responsibility. These case studies will form the basis of online and class discussions and help construct a solid foundation for developing students' understanding of the relevant ethical and legal issues.