Public Health
Public Health Bibliography
The following sources do not necessarily reflect the Center's position or values. These sources, however, are excellent resources for familiarizing oneself with the all sides of the issue.
Health Research for Developing Countries: Reason and Emotion in Bioethics
2009 Parallel Paper Presentation, Global Bioethics: Emerging Challenges Facing Human Dignity.
Length: 24:52
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Clean Hands Still Key to Preventing Infections
A recent article1 reported on research showing harmful bacteria can linger on computer keyboards and provide a means of spreading infection. The bacteria were deliberately placed on the keyboards, rather than transmitted by users’ hands, but the point was made that contaminated keyboards can pass on pathogens to later users. The authors recommended frequent disinfection of computer keyboards accessed by multiple users and hand washing after using keyboards and before contact with patients.
Adolescent Vaccines: What Is the Point?
In the last half-century, childhood vaccines have been a great blessing, greatly decreasing death and disability due to infectious diseases. Most grandparents today are old enough to recall the scourges of polio, whooping cough, and other childhood infectious diseases. Visions of children languishing in iron lungs in institutions and of the braces and wheelchairs of victims of paralytic polio come to mind.
The Adequacy of Preventive Health Care: Does the Health Care Provider Matter?
Lifestyle-related behaviors account for half of the ten leading causes of death in the United States.1 Everyone pays lip service to preventive health care, but as is often the case, the numbers—which in this case are not encouraging—reveal the true concerns of people. Only 5% of the $1.4 trillion spent on direct health care in the United States goes to preventive health measures and the promotion of general health.
Should Children Be Routinely Immunized?
Parental concern regarding recommended vaccinations for the minor child is a very real issue that currently presents itself on a regular basis. Many parents are concerned about the risks of individual vaccination products, and moral and religious convictions also lead some parents to forego vaccination of their children. A generation ago most parents would have readily acknowledged that "the doctor knows best" and thus would have unquestioningly assented to his or her counsel.
