Case Studies in Public Health: Science, Ethics, and Human Rights

To critically analyse real public health cases in order to integrate science, ethics, and human rights into responsible decision-making.

OBJECTIVES | BENEFITS

The programme aims to equip participants with the skills to analyse relevant public health cases, considering their ethical, legal, and human rights dimensions; to foster the development of competencies for assessing the role of science and emerging technologies in policymaking; and to encourage reflection on the responsibilities of researchers, professionals, and decision-makers.

OUR STUDENTS PROFILE

• Students and professionals in the fields of Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, and Biomedical Sciences;
• Professionals in Bioethics, Health Law, and Health Policy;
• Policy makers and health managers;
• Researchers interested in ethics in research and human rights;
• Professionals from non-governmental organisations and international bodies related to health, human rights, and social justice.

COURSE SYLLABUS

Ethical, legal, and human rights frameworks applicable to public health.
The role of science in the context of public health, in evidence production and policy formulation.
Participation of human beings, privacy, informed consent, and scientific responsibility in research and public health interventions.
Environmental health and individual, corporate, and state accountability in public health crisis contexts.
Ethical use of genomics in different public health and human rights contexts.
Communication, misinformation, and risk assessment in public health.
Surveillance, confidentiality, and privacy in the face of public health threats.
Science, innovation, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in public health practice.

CERTIFICATION

The awarding of 4 ECTS requires a positive result in the final assessment.