The Promise (and Pitfalls) of Public Health Policy Surveillance

Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, Forthcoming

Posted: 27 Aug 2016

See all articles by James G. Hodge

James G. Hodge

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Date Written: August 12, 2016

Abstract

Though public health policy surveillance is an integral tool in correlating the law to scientifically based public health law studies, drawing accurate legal conclusions from collected data can be challenging. Data may be poor quality, inaccessible to law and policy makers, or inapplicable to other jurisdictions over time and place. As Burris et. al. advocate, modern, sophisticated, and interactive data collection systems would render more precise legal analysis tied to public health improvements. Although policy surveillance is promising, public health officials, health care providers, attorneys, and researchers must be skilled and prepared to successfully navigate and resolve potential pitfalls for its benefits to be fully realized. Among the significant challenges related to policy surveillance are: 1) timing, 2) agenda setting, 3) predictable misuse, and 4) politics inherent in a federalist public health legal infrastructure. As public health data infrastructure is developed, better legal approaches must be simultaneously crafted to achieve optimal public health outcomes.

Keywords: Public health law; policy, research; assessment

Suggested Citation

Hodge, James G., The Promise (and Pitfalls) of Public Health Policy Surveillance (August 12, 2016). Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2830145

James G. Hodge (Contact Author)

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
111 E. Taylor Street, MC 9520
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4467
United States
480-727-8576 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://law.asu.edu/degree-programs/public-health-law-policy

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