Public Health Ethics Special Interest Group
The Faculty of Public Health's Ethics Special Interest Group (SIG) is a forum for public health professionals to consider and support the professional and ethical requirements for public health.
We are a growing network which encourages and facilitates our members to explore theoretical ethics and the practical application of ethics in public health practice and decision making.
The conversations and resources uploaded here aim to advance our training and education, as required in the Public Health Knowledge and Skills Framework, and provide an academic and practical resource for our day-to-day ethical dilemmas.
The Special Interest Group also acts as a coordinating platform and resource for the regional ethics fora.
There are a number of regional ethics for a which aim to advance the discussion locally of ethics in public health. Please contact the chair of the Special Interest Group, Farhang Tahzib, at Ukpublichealth.ethics@gmail.com who will put you in touch with the current local forum coordinator.
UK Public health knowledge skills framework
Public Health Ethics in Practice, Coggon, J. and Viens, A.M.
Scottish Public Health Ethics Forum
Contact:
The group reports to the Faculty’s Ethics Committee and the SIG's chair and main contact is Farhang Tahzib: Ukpublichealth.ethics@gmail.com
Recent events
Climate Change Litigation at the European Court of Human Rights
On 21 March 2022, FPH's Ethics SIG, in collaboration with other partners, hosted a webinar that explored the first applications to the European Court of Human Rights on challenges about governments' inaction on global warming.
Speakers discussed barriers that applications needed to overcome before the courts can pass judgements, the role of human rights in the fight against global warming, and whether national and international courts are the right forums for these discussions.
Recent publications
1. The Nanny State Debate
Farhang Tahzib, Chair of the FPH Ethics SIG, commissioned a new report - The Nanny State Debate - to help inform and guide public health professionals on what the nanny state debate means and how to positively tackle conversations that ridicule the introduction or consideration of specific public health interventions. Written by Professor John Coggon, the report aims to shift the debate from the negative connotations that come with the nanny state label to the positive opportunities that come with people’s right to health. Click here to read the full report.
2. Migration, diversity and health
The Ethical dimensions of migration, diversity, and health - roundtable discussion (January 2018)
3. Statement on public health ethics and COVID-19