Law and ethics in population health

Abstract

This paper proposes an action agenda to assure healthier and safer populations. First, create a strong public health infrastructure with sustainable funding and secure foundations--a well-trained workforce, modern data systems, rapid disease surveillance, and laboratory capacity. Second, use law as a tool for the public's health - tax and spend to create incentives for health, alter the informational and built environments to reduce risk behaviours, lower socio-economic disparities to improve health, regulate for the public's welfare, pursue tort litigation to innovate for safety, and deregulate to reduce harm. Third, create a new public health ethic in society that truly values human health--advocate for a renewed commitment to the ideals of community and partnership, and stress citizens' duties to help and protect their fellow human beings.