PHLT 2607 - Ethical Issues in Public Health
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section A01, CRN 43956,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Lauren Iagulli
Email: lmiagulli01@ysu.edu
Course Description
2607. Ethical Issues in Public Health. Examines practical aspects of ethics and public health. This course will help students develop the analytical skills necessary for evaluating ethical issues related to public health policy and public health prevention, treatment, and research. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Essentials of Public Health Ethics | Bernheim, R. G., Childress, J. F., Bonnie, R. J., & Melnick, A. L. | 9780763780463 |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Chapter 1: Introduction- A Framework for Public Health Ethics Chapter 2: Moral Considerations-Bases and Limits for Public Health Interventions Liang, Liang, & Rosen- COVID-19: A Comparison to the 1918 Influence and How We Can Defeat It Smith & Whiteside: The History of AIDS Exceptionalism Task Force for Mass Critical Care and American College of Chest Physicians-Triage of Scarce Critical Care Resources in COVID-19: An Implementation Guide for Regional Allocation |
Ethical Frameworks and Moral Reasoning in Public Health | Discussion: Balancing Human Safety and Animal Welfare Quiz: Chapter 1 Quiz: Chapter 2 Assignment: Ethical Frameworks in Public Health Decision Making |
| 8/31 | Chapter 3: The Political and Legal Context of Public Health Ethics Chapter 4: Public Health Perspectives |
Governance, Law, and Public Health Decision-Making | Discussion: Public Health Problems and the Scope of Public Health Authority Quiz: Chapter 3 Quiz: Chapter 4 Assignment: Law, Public Values, and the Role of the Courts in Public Health |
| 9/7 | Chapter 5: Surveillance and Public Health Data: Foundation and Eyes of Public Health Chapter 6: Case Finding- Screening, Testing, and Contact Tracing Resnick & Wing- Lessons Learned From the Children’s Environmental Exposure Research Study |
Ethics and Methods of Surveillance, Testing, and Case Finding | Discussion: Ethical Challenges in HIV Testing, Treatment, and Partner Notification Quiz: Chapter 5 Quiz: Chapter 6 Assignment: Ethics of Surveillance, Privacy, and Case Findings |
| 9/14 | Chapter 7: Immunization- Protection Through Vaccination | Ethical Perspectives and Policy Approaches to Immunization | Discussion: Vaccine Requirements and Allocation Quiz: Chapter 7 Assignment: Ethical Justification and Limits of Vaccine Mandates |
| 9/21 | Chapter 8: Containing Communicable Diseases-Personal Control Measures | Control Measures in Communicable Disease Prevention | Discussion: Responsibilities and Rights: Outbreak Management Quiz: Chapter 8 Assignment: Ethical Analysis for DOT Tuberculosis |
| 9/28 | Chapter 10: Public Health and the Environment | Environmental Health, Ethics, and Community Stewardship | Discussion: Environmental Policy Debates Quiz: Chapter 10 Assignment: Urban Heat Islands, Heat Waves, and Public Health Ethics |
| 10/5 | Chapter 9: Health Communication Gannon et. al.- Big tobacco's dirty tricks: Seven key tactics of the tobacco industry Hoffamn & Tan: Biological, psychological and social processes that explain celebrities’ influence on patients’ health-related behaviors |
Ethics and Practice in Public Health Communication | Discussion: Celebrities, Media, and Public Health Influence Quiz: Chapter 9 Assignment: Ethical Evaluation of Health Communication Strategies |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.