Importance Of Ethical Issues In Public Health

Ever since a young age some may identify with those who raised them to have instilled a moral compass to assist in their knowing of right from wrong. As age progress and surroundings start to influence, a new outlook on things form when the moral compasses tend to shift. Public health professionals are presented with opportunities where they can choose not to follow their professions ethical standards. Ethical can be defined as the question presented in determining right from wrong. Public health practices are one of the central areas of public health within a community and these public health practices are located throughout the communities catering to certain demographics. This is a result of the services provided or the insurances accepted. The health providers face ethical issues in forms of services provided, politics, confidentiality, and the use of

Nancy Baum and associates study in Michigan conducted a review within public health practices on their views on ethical issues they face within their role. Some of the results found that these professions lack the adequate knowledge on ethical standards. Although not all participants articulated clear distinctions, many shared the view that ethical issues were those that were difficult to resolve and that required judgments about what actions were ‘‘right’’ and how to balance competing concepts of what is right (Baum 2009). A concern in this field could start with better polices to test these professionals after becoming certified. These polices can implement required ethics training refresher courses. By requiring these courses we are holding the professionals responsible for ethical mistakes made when they fail to follow protocol.

Typically, in the public health field finding the sources of funding on projects is something that is tight at