Can we make Public Health decisions more ethical?

How do you protect the public without infringing on individual rights? That’s the question researchers tackled in a new study published by the UKHSA in collaboration with Simon Kolstoe, Associate Professor of Bioethics, from the University of Portsmouth.

The research was sparked by a case involving a patient with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (N.B. the patient was not in Portsmouth). The situation posed a potential public health risk which raised ethical and legal concerns about restricting the individual’s freedom.

To address this, a multidisciplinary panel was formed. They reviewed evidence, consulted legal and ethical experts, and included public input to develop a structured decision-making model that public health teams can now use to navigate similar complex, high-risk scenarios.

Key findings include:

  • A custom risk assessment template that helps to balance public safety with individual rights
  • A replicable process than can be used for similar public health cases
  • A model that promotes transparency and accountability in decision-making

 Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdaf052

#PublicHealth #UniversityOfPortsmouth #EthicalDecisionMaking