Here is a quote by Professor Larry Gostin from a selected reading in Public Heal
ID: 81180 • Letter: H
Question
Here is a quote by Professor Larry Gostin from a selected reading in Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader - Chapter 1:
"Do public health professionals have a duty to tell the full truth and, if so, under what standard should they be judged? Public health professionals may earnestly believe that their mission requires vigorous interventions to prevent risk behaviors (e.g., smoking) or encourage health-promoting behaviors (e.g., screening and treatment). To achieve these beneficent objectives, public health professionals may exaggerate the risks or benefits or make claims that are insufficiently grounded in science (Wikler and Beauchamp 1995). Suppose public health professionals know that the risk of sexual transmission of HIV in middle class, low prevalence areas is relatively low. Are they obliged to disclose this fact when advising men to wear condoms? How would an ethical code address the nuanced question of "truth telling" by public health professionals?"
Discuss the question about "truth-telling" at the end of the quote. What does "truth-telling" mean? What is your position in this quote?
Explanation / Answer
Public health focus exclusively on common good. Public health authorities regulate individuals and their behavior that endanger the community. The application of ethical principles and values to public health decisions can be complex and controversial. Utilitarianism model of consequentialist ethical theory, holds that these kind of actions actions are justified as they promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people.
The public health model of ethical reasoning assumes that the appropriate mode of evaluating options is cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness across individuals. According to this model of public health, the most fundamental interests of individuals may be sacrificed in order to produce the best overall outcome. So, in public health point of view, we can withhold the truth if it is in greater good for the population over the individual.