Public Health Code of Ethics

Public Health Code of Ethics

Public health incorporates the process to clarify, prioritize and make a justification to any possible courses relating to public health actions and more so those that base on ethics, principles, and beliefs of involved stakeholders as well as other researchers. The public health code of ethics gives responsible stakeholders mandate to protect the health of the public. It calls for care of the well-being of the community as well as the willingness to ensure safety and protected community. Responsible stakeholders are also requested to exercise power to protect the health of the population together with avoiding abuses likely to occur at a community level. The public health code of ethics gives specifications of the importance of public health institutions that should be serving the population. This informs the population of what they expect from the public health institutions responsible for serving them.

The underlying values and beliefs that govern public health code of ethics include confidentiality of the information which can lead to individual and community. They believe that privacy and confidentiality of communities and individuals is critical hence should be protected. They value community as the focal point where they should ensure protection and safety of individuals and communities.

Value system triggers the development of health care policy since the values and beliefs of a community should be incorporated into the health policy. The rules set by public health issues should be in line with the values and beliefs of the community. This is because individuals are willing to change when the policies are suitable and in line with their values. The concept of value directs policy-makers in the decision making which can help in improving interventions aimed to promote community care.