Public Health Law and Ethics

SLN #: 15270
Course Prefix: LAW-651
Course Section: 001
Credit Hours: 2
Instructor(s): Hodge Jr.
Course Books: View List of Books

Course Description:
The protection and preservation of the public’s health are critical goals of government and the private sector. Equally important is the need to respect individual rights and morals in American society. Public Health Law and Ethics explores the inherent tensions between promoting the public’s health and protecting the legal and ethical rights and interests of individuals. Course objectives are to: (1) assess the structure and functions of the U.S. public health system; (2) explore the roles of government, private sector entities, and individuals in assuring the conditions for people to be healthy through law and policy; and (3) assess legal and ethical conflicts between governmental interests in public health and individual interests in liberty or other protected rights in multiple contexts. These issues will be examined through critical facets of public health theory and practice— e.g., health promotion and communication; public health powers such as immunization, testing, screening, quarantine, and isolation; public health emergencies; obesity prevention; regulation of businesses and professions; and tort litigation for the public’s health. While protecting the public’s health has global dimensions, the focus of the course is on public health law in the United States.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 2
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: No
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Prerequisite: None, although Health Law and Policy is recommended
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Final Exam Given: Yes
Final Exam Type: Take-Home
Participation Points: Yes
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Additional Attendance Policy: Yes

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.