Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Professional Ethics
Course Code
LUSDK_028
Branch of Science
Other social sciences
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Health Management; Public Health
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Ginta Vēja
Structure Unit Manager
Liāna Deklava
Structural Unit
Department of Rehabilitation
Contacts
Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, socdk@rsu.lv, +371 67061575
About Study Course
Objective
The course is designed to prepare future public health professionals to recognize and address ethical dilemmas that arise in public health practice, where balancing individual rights with the common good, as well as evaluating the duties and responsibilities of multiple stakeholders, is often required. It is grounded in the principles articulated in professional ethical guidelines and their critical evaluation, while also situating these principles within the broader frameworks of moral and political philosophy. Students will develop the capacity to identify and analyze value conflicts, to understand the scope and limitations of ethical principles and the values underpinning them, and to formulate well-reasoned judgments regarding the goals and priorities of public health.
Preliminary Knowledge
Not required.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.By the end of the course, students know and understand: The most common ethical dilemmas in public health practice and their relevance at the individual, community, population, and governmental levels. The principles formulated in professional ethical guidelines and the importance of their critical appraisal. Broader theories of moral and political philosophy and their connection to public health practice.
Skills
1.By the end of the course, students are able to: Identify and describe ethical dilemmas in public health situations. Apply and interpret ethical principles from professional guidelines in the analysis of specific cases. Analyze and compare ethical principles with broader theories of moral and political philosophy. Evaluate value conflicts and the duties of stakeholders in public health decision-making.
Competences
1.By the end of the course, students are prepared to: Independently and convincingly formulate well-reasoned ethical judgments about the goals, priorities, and interventions of public health. Justify and defend chosen solutions in discussions, drawing on principles, theories, and empirical examples. Integrate ethical knowledge and skills into professional practice, making public health decisions in a responsible and transparent way.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
60.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Students are expected to study the course literature, prepare for seminars, and complete individual and group assignments to consolidate knowledge and actively participate in the learning process |
||
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Test |
40.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Multiple-choice test on lecture and seminar topics, and case study/case studies analysis |
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction to Ethics: Concepts, Questions, and Disciplines
Description
Specific features of morality; theoretical and normative questions in ethics; general normative ethics, applied ethics, professional ethics. A provisional characterization of public health ethics. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction to Ethics: Concepts, Questions, and Disciplines
Description
Specific features of morality; theoretical and normative questions in ethics; general normative ethics, applied ethics, professional ethics. A provisional characterization of public health ethics. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Ethical approaches in the field of public health
Description
Classical normative approaches: deontological, consequentialist, and virtue ethics; the four-principle approach (principlism) in research ethics, clinical ethics, and bioethics; adapted ethical frameworks in professional guidelines, e.g., APHA. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Ethical approaches in the field of public health
Description
Classical normative approaches: deontological, consequentialist, and virtue ethics; the four-principle approach (principlism) in research ethics, clinical ethics, and bioethics; adapted ethical frameworks in professional guidelines, e.g., APHA. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Individual Liberty and the Common Good: part 1
Description
The core values and goals of public health; the "public" and the "health" in "public health"; ethical principles of non-maleficence, beneficence, health maximisation, efficiency, respect for autonomy, and proportionality. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Individual Liberty and the Common Good: part 1
Description
The core values and goals of public health; the "public" and the "health" in "public health"; ethical principles of non-maleficence, beneficence, health maximisation, efficiency, respect for autonomy, and proportionality. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Individual freedom and common good: part 2
Description
Scope and legitimacy of government interventions: the intervention ladder, paternalistic justifications, the harm principle, the liberty tradition. Alternatives to individualism: relational autonomy, interdependance, and solidarity. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Individual freedom and common good: part 2
Description
Scope and legitimacy of government interventions: the intervention ladder, paternalistic justifications, the harm principle, the liberty tradition. Alternatives to individualism: relational autonomy, interdependance, and solidarity. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Justice and equity
Description
Concepts and types of justice; health justice and health equity as core public health values. Justice in healthcare; distributive justice in public health and the multidimensional nature of health inequalities. Classical theories of justice (utilitarianism, libertarianism, and egalitarianism) and their implications for healthcare allocation. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Justice and equity
Description
Concepts and types of justice; health justice and health equity as core public health values. Justice in healthcare; distributive justice in public health and the multidimensional nature of health inequalities. Classical theories of justice (utilitarianism, libertarianism, and egalitarianism) and their implications for healthcare allocation. |
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
20 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
KNAB. 2008. Ētika valsts amatpersonu darbībā. Rīga: KNAB, Valsts administrācijas skola.
2.
American Public Health Association. 2019. Public Health Code of Ethics. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.
3.
Nuffield Council on Bioethics. 2022. Ethics tools for decision-makers: Responding to public health threats.. London: Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
4.
Nuffield Council on Bioethics. 2020. Research in global health emergencies: ethical issues. Short report. Oxford, UK: Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
5.
Daniels, N. 2011. Equity and population health: Toward a broader bioethics agenda. In A. Dawson, ed. Public health ethics: Key concepts and issues in policy and practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 191-210. Available via Ebook Central Academic Complete
6.
Saloner, B. 2019. Alcohol and other drugs: public health ethics issues. In Mastroianni, A.C., Kahn J.P., Kass N.E., eds. The Oxford Handbook of Public Health Ethics. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 512-523.
7.
Verweij, M. 2011. Infectious disease control. In A. Dawson, ed. Public Health Ethics: Key Concepts and Issues in Policy and Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 100-117. Available via Ebook Central Academic Complete
Additional Reading
1.
Klīve V.V. 1998. Rīcības ceļos. Rīga: “Zinātne”.
2.
Kuzņecova, A., 2003. Profesionālās ētikas pamati. RaKa, Rīga.
3.
Biomedicīnas ētika: teorija un prakse. RSU Humanitāro zinātņu katedra, Rīga, 2006.
4.
Medicīnas ētikas rokasgrāmata, Pasaules medicīnas asociācija, izdevusi Latvijas Ārstu biedrība, Rīga, 2009.
5.
Barrett, D.H., Ortmann, L.W., Larson, S.A. 2022. Narrative Ethics in Public Health: The Value of Stories. 1st ed. Vol. 7. Cham: Springer Nature.
6.
Barrett, D.H., Ortmann, L.W., Dawson, A., Saenz, C., Reis, A., Gail, B. 2016. Public Health Ethics: Cases Spanning the Globe. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG.
7.
Bull, S., Parker, M., Ali, J., et al. 2024. Research ethics in epidemics and pandemics: A casebook. Springer Nature.
8.
Dawson, A. ed. 2011. Public health ethics: Key concepts and issues in policy and practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available via Ebook Central Academic Complete
9.
Mastroianni, A.C., Kahn J.P., Kass N.E., eds. 2019. The Oxford Handbook of Public Health Ethics. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
10.
Nuffield Council on Bioethics. 2007. Public health: ethical issues. London: The Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
11.
World Health Organization. 2017. WHO guidelines on ethical issues in public health surveillance. World Health Organization.