Public Health and the Law
"Public Health Law is a two-credit survey course that covers core legal issues encountered in regulation and public policy affecting population health. The course will provide students with an overview of topics that concern regulatory theory, administrative law, legislation, and individual rights' concerns. As public health authorities are confronted with ever complex challenges, the role of law is pivotal in both directing regulatory responses, as well in shaping strategies to combat perceived abuses of government power. Few areas of law and policy are as dynamic as public health law as the field plays a central role in major, ongoing areas of population health such as Covid-19, opioid abuse, climate change, disaster preparedness and response, etc.
The course will focus on four themes: (1) the structure and powers of public health agencies in confronting traditional and evolving health threats, (2) the challenge of balancing individual rights against population health concerns, (3) the role of civil litigation in influencing changes in public health with a focus on legal settlements in the areas of tobacco and opioids, (4) international and comparative law approaches to meeting cross border health challenges.
The course is taught online and combines several live class sessions with programmed modules. Students will be required to make several in-class presentations that will be the basis of three required essay assignments.
The course will focus on four themes: (1) the structure and powers of public health agencies in confronting traditional and evolving health threats, (2) the challenge of balancing individual rights against population health concerns, (3) the role of civil litigation in influencing changes in public health with a focus on legal settlements in the areas of tobacco and opioids, (4) international and comparative law approaches to meeting cross border health challenges.
The course is taught online and combines several live class sessions with programmed modules. Students will be required to make several in-class presentations that will be the basis of three required essay assignments.