how and why Public Health Law and Policy is delivered through various means and avenues

Question description

Public Health Spending

This course provided great information and insight as to how and why Public Health Law and Policy is delivered through various means and avenues. It focused on the legal system as well as framing Issues of Public Health, Law, and Policy and its impact on target populations and society as a whole. Prior to this course, I had a vague understanding and idea of what public health law encompassed, but now at its completion I can say I have a lot more knowledge and insight from the various perspectives and viewpoints of my classmates and Dr. Spach.

One concept I learned a lot from was in Module 2, which focused on “Law and Public Health.” Here, I realized what an impact laws have with respect to public health initiatives and efforts to build healthier communities. According to (“Law and Public Health at CDC”, 2006) The indispensable role of law is evident across the entire history of U.S. public health—from early colonialists’ needs to defend against infectious threats to today’s innovative law-based approaches to preventing chronic diseases, injuries, and other problems The U.S. experience with smallpox illustrates how, at some points in history, law-based interventions were implemented even before science elucidated the nature of the public health threat and the basis of the intervention.

Additionally, Module 3 highlighted “Public Health Ethics.” This section was extremely beneficial as it provided an opportunity to research and present the various interactions between ethics and their relation to law and public health. According to (Gostin, 2010) Occasionally the interests of public health and the community can come into conflict. When that occurs, it is important to review one’s process, and ensure principles outlined in the HealthCare Workers Code of Ethics aligns with policy implementation or the establishment of law. There is a great deal that individuals cannot do to secure their health such as: environmental protection, hygiene and sanitation, clean air and surface water, uncontaminated food and drinking water, safe roads and products, and control of infectious disease. Therefore, the need to organize and collaborate on public health law and policy is critical. This part of the course clearly defined how ethical guidelines play into establishing law and policies. It was interesting to see the responses and feedback of my classmates’ thoughts in the discussion board as everyone had a different idea and approach to address the correlation between the two.

Overall this course opened my eyes to the benefits and challenges of establishing Public Health Law and Policy. All of my research and coursework illustrated that need for Public Health Law as it really impacts those with socioeconomic disadvantages and results in poor health outcomes. I can use this information moving forward to address and lobby for change at higher levels within my community.