Abstract
This commentary introduces critical public health ethics as an innovative lens for considering Canada’s role in global health. Arising from the relatively young field of public health ethics, this analytic perspective sheds light on questions regarding public health policy, research and practice that often remain shaded from view because of traditional ways of thinking about public health. The advantage of a critical public health ethics lens is illustrated through the example of Canada’s role in scaling up access to HIV treatments in developing countries.
MeSH terms: Public health, ethics, HIV, justice
Résumé
Nous présentons ici la question cruciale de l’éthique en santé publique comme un prisme novateur à travers lequel envisager le rôle du Canada en santé mondiale. Née du domaine relativement nouveau de l’éthique en santé publique, cette perspective analytique éclaire des questions de politiques, de recherche et de pratique en santé publique qui restent souvent dans l’ombre en raison des modes de pensée traditionnels sur la santé publique. L’avantage d’un prisme critique de l’éthique en santé publique est illustré par l’exemple du rôle du Canada dans l’élargissement de l’accès aux traitements contre le VIH dans les pays en développement.
Footnotes
Stephanie Nixon was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Fellowship and an Ontario HIV Treatment Network Fellowship throughout the preparation of this commentary.
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