Public Health Law
SLN #:Course Prefix: LAW-651
Course Section: 1001
Credit Hours: 2
Instructor(s): Hodge Jr.
Course Books: View List of Books
Course Description:
The protection and preservation of the public health are quintessential goals of government. Equally critical is the need to respect individual rights and morals in American society. The classic conundrum of public health law and ethics is the extent to which government may restrain or impinge citizens’ interests, directly or indirectly, to promote the health and safety of the community. This course, Public Health Law, explores the inherent tensions between promoting the public health and protecting the legal and ethical rights and interests of individuals. Course objectives are to: (1) better understand the structure and functions of the U.S. public health system; (2) examine public health theory and practice; (3) closely assess the roles of government, private sector entities, and individuals in assuring the conditions for people to be healthy; and (4) exploring 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 (e.g., testing, screening, treatment, vaccination, social distancing; public health emergencies; regulation of businesses and professions; and tort litigation for the public’s health. Note - although protecting the public’s health has global components, this course focuses solely on public health laws 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
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Limited Enrollment Number: 40
Final Exam Given: Yes
Final Exam Type: In-Class - Completely Secure
Participation Points: Yes
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Teaching Method: In Person
* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.