Public Health Ethics and Practice

In recent years, the frequency and diversity of public health ethical dilemmas in the areas of health care and policy making have grown considerably. Health professionals must now consider the ethical implications of an increasing array of treatments, interventions, and health promotion activities. This goes hand in hand with increasing medical knowledge, and the growth of new and innovative medical technologies and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the same technology and knowledge is increasing professional and public awareness of new potential health threats (e.g. bird flu). This book plays a key role the discussion of public health ethics. It examines the principles and values that support an ethical approach to public health practice. It provides examples of some of the complex areas which those practicing, analyzing, and planning the health of populations have to navigate. Public Health Ethics and Practice is essential reading for current practitioners, those involved in public healt

Stephen Peckham is a Senior Lecturer in Health Services Delivery and Organisational Research at the LSHTM and is academic director within the NHS Service Delivery and Organisation R&D Programme. Stephen was previously Reader in Health Policy and Head of Department of Sociology and Social Policy at Oxford Brookes University. He has been involved in health and social policy research and teaching since 1991 and previously worked in the voluntary and local government sectors. Alison Hann is a tutor in Public Health Ethics, Public Health and Health Policy at the University of Wales Swansea. She has published three books with Ashgate: The Politics of Breast Cancer Screening (1992); Analysing Health Policy (2000, edited); Health Policy and Politics (2007, edited). She has also written many book chapters on public health, ethics and politics, and articles in journals including Critical Social Policy, Critical Public Health, International Journal of Health Planning and Management and Public Health. Alison is also Convenor of the Political Studies Association specialist health group.