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You are in: Curriculum issues > General issues > Consultation on the ethical dilemmas related to public health
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has launched a consultation on the ethical dilemmas related to public health, such as the difficulties in balancing individual choice and community benefit.
This consultation may be of particular interest to citizenship teachers as it is interested in the views of young people so please encourage your students to have their say.
The Consultation Paper provides background information and asks questions in the context of five case studies: infectious diseases, obesity, smoking, alcohol, and the supplementation of food and water.
For example:
• Are there cases where the vaccination of children against the wishes of their parents could be justified?
• Would measures such as forced quarantine, which helped to control the outbreak of SARS in Asia, be acceptable in countries such as the UK?
• What are the roles and obligations of parents, schools, school-food providers and the government in tackling childhood obesity?
• Should people who smoke or drink excessively be entitled to fewer resources from the public healthcare system, or should they be asked for increased contributions?
• Fortification of foodstuffs such as flour and margarine have been accepted for some time. Why does the fluoridation of water meet with such resistance?
You might decide to pick one topic for a lesson - the consultation paper includes lots of information to use with a class.
Your student's view will certainly be heard as all responses will be considered by the Nuffield Council.
The period of consultation will last for four months, closing on Friday 15th September 2006. You can find more information about how to take part from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics website.
Last Updated Thu, 15 June 2006