Public health: ethical issues Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Published: Tue, 13 November 2007
This report considers the responsibilities of government, industry, individuals and others in promoting the health of everyone. The Council concludes that the state has a particular duty to help people lead a healthy life and to reduce inequalities. We propose a ‘stewardship model’, which outlines how this can be achieved. The report considers the acceptability of different public health measures, and highlights the responsibilities of industries that promote products that affect our health.
Recommendations for policy are made in four areas:
- Infectious disease
- Obesity
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Fluoridation of water