Law as a Tool to Advance the Community's Health

Article Abstract:

The use of statutes, regulations, and litigation are discussed as ways to enhance the health of communities. Laws can not only deter people but can also educate people and businesses, create incentives to create safer products, and change the economic environment. Government officials must constantly balance the needs of the community against the rights of individuals. Public health laws should focus primarily on prevention.

---

Public Health Regulation: A Systematic Evaluation

Article Abstract:

Public health laws are implemented primarily to protect people's health. However, these laws may encroach upon people's individual rights. One example is state and local laws prohibiting smoking in public places. Public health officials who lobby for such laws must justify the need for the law. They must provide scientific evidence that people are at risk of adverse health outcomes in the absence of the law. The intervention the law proposes must have proven benefit. The cost must be reasonable and the benefits, costs, and burdens must be fairly distributed.

---

FDA regulation of tobacco advertising and youth smoking: historical, social, and constitutional perspectives

Article Abstract:

Public health concerns raised by smoking have increased public support for FDA regulation of tobacco advertising despite concerns about commercial speech protections. The discovery that tobacco companies knew nicotine was addictive, the targeting of young consumers and the dangers of second-hand smoke have changed the perception of smoking as a voluntarily accepted health risk. FDA regulation of tobacco advertising is reasonable especially when compared to the health hazards involved. Increased law enforcement and health education have been unsuccessful in reducing youth smoking because of limited resources.

Advertising, Tobacco, Cigarettes, Advertising law

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: A Capitol idea: visitor center puts construction safety first. Power struggle
• Abstracts: Assessing acid-base status in circulatory failure: differences between arterial and central venous blood. Hyponatremia
• Abstracts: Improving the prediction of coronary heart disease to aid in the management of high cholesterol levels: what a difference a decade makes
• Abstracts: How to use an article evaluating the clinical impact of a computer-based clinical decision support system. Evidence-Based Medicine: Principles for Applying the Users' Guides to Patient Care

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.