Settings for Public Health Practice

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that public health concerns lie in the realm of no man's land, and the state has to step in first to provide the framework, dealing with the issues in public health, and secondly making it mandatory. The writer discusses that federal laws must be made universally applicable and state laws abrogated so far as health issues are concerned. It is evident that public health questions affect the very security of the country and must be treated on par with the defense of the country. The writer concludes that just as it is legal for the federal defense laws alone to be implemented all over the country, the public health and health enforcement must be a sole federal subject so that much of the confusion and the various state legislations that create anomalies and interstate and inter-department rivalry can be avoided.

Outline:
Introduction
Legislation and its Need
Health Care Agencies and Their Relationships
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The legislature while dealing with public health issues had to consider the legal validity of the legislation, ethical and sometimes the political issues involved. Human rights, laws regarding restraint and individual freedom all are part of the principles that ought to direct the framing of the issues in the law. Public health became a point of concern and the public health authorities had to be given more powers delegated to them on account of the spread of communicable diseases and terrorist action, especially biological warfare. There is a need, to collect data, and share it with the law enforcement agencies, and the need to enter private property for inspection, and control property as a means of regulating health care. This would not be possible unless they were empowered by legislation. Individuals may also need be detained, investigated and controlled with compulsory physical examination, vaccination and the like and such infringement on the civil liberties also requires authorization in the form of law. Public health providers thus have to be armed with sufficient authority derived by legal and statutory provisions to perform their duties without hindrance in today's society where many activities of companies in biotechnology, pharmacy are sought to be controlled and inspected. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Billi, John E; Agrawal, Gail Bopp. (2001) "The Challenge of Regulating Managed Care" University of Michigan Press.
• Gostin, Larry Ogalthorpe. (2002) "Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader" University of California Press.
• Grim, Charles W. (2005, Jan) "IHS Focuses on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention" Retrieved 11 February, 2008 from http://www.usmedicine.com/column.cfm?columnID=193&issueID=70
• N. A. (2007, Jun) "Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy" Retrieved 11 February, 2008 from http://www.hhs.gov/vtreport.html#common
• N. A. (2005) "Testimony of Daniel R. Levinson Nominee for Inspector General Department of Health and Human Services" Retrieved 11 February, 2008 from http://oig.hhs.gov/testimony/docs/2005/Levinson-confirmSenateFinanceB.pdf

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