The Ethical Obstacles and Challenges of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Context of a Contemporary Health Service
Abstract
Medicine is a specific area that draws not only on empirical knowledge of sciences but also on principles from the humanities, and the fact that health and disease are not only exclusively categorised as natural science but as value based entities where it is necessary to maintain proportionality between the legitimate requirements of biomedical research and ethical requirements and the moral imperatives of medical practice. It is here that we find the niche for ethics and ethical approaches to solving unclear or disputed issues of our actions; questions that are very sensitively perceived by the public, often leading to a loss of confidence in both health care professionals and the health system but also in the whole social system as such.
Ethical principles in medicine, including hygiene and epidemiology are based on two basic assumptions: the first is the professional ethic of responsibility, which ensures quality of care with a high degree of expertise from assisting physicians and prevention of possible harm (primum non nocere) and the second is the right to self-determination (individual autonomy) with the right to be informed. It likewise comprises informed consent based on clear information regarding planned diagnostic procedures, therapeutic and preventive measure and informed consent regarding epidemiological studies in which patient's cooperation is requested.
The paper deals with methodological questions of ethical approaches to health related problems, stressing problems related to infections and chronic noncommunicable diseases of high incidence with a view to preventive measures.