Topic 7.2
What ethical principles should guide decisions about public health measures?
Ethical debates surrounding vaccination are complex and multifaceted, involving personal rights, public health, and the protection of the most vulnerable. Different ethical perspectives, such as autonomy and liberty, utilitarianism, the harm principle, and preventing individual harm, offer valuable insights into how societies navigate these challenges.
Different Ethical Positions
There are a range of ethical positions that can be held for and against the use of vaccines – four common positions are:
1. Autonomy & liberty
2. Promoting public health (utilitarianism)
3. The harm principle: protecting the most vulnerable
4. Preventing harm to individuals
A brief explanation of each is in the following flipcards. These are not all of the possible positions; just give a brief introduction.
Autonomy & Liberty
Liberty protects the ability of a person to take control of their own life. Autonomy is the ability to live our lives as we see fit. When society has liberty, people have autonomy.
Autonomy & Liberty
Some see mandatory vaccination as taking away their liberty and autonomy (e.g. to get vaccinated, ‘no jab, no play’). They say it can interfere with the ability to decide how to live one’s life.
Promoting Public Health: Utilitarianism
The idea that the right choice produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. There are two types of utilitarianism: act and rule.
Promoting Public Health: Utilitarianism
Act: The best choice for a person is the one that gives them the best outcome.
Rule: Creating a rule that will have the best outcome for society if followed by all.
Preventing Harm to Individuals
People can opt out of public health measures if these are expected to cause harm or illness and when the risk of harm is genuine.
Preventing Harm to Individuals
Example: The immune-compromised may be at risk from live, attenuated vaccines, as their immune systems may be unable to respond effectively even though the live vaccine is attenuated.
The Harm Principle
You can only make someone do something they don’t want to if it is to prevent harm to others. We are obligated to protect the most vulnerable and those who cannot protect themselves from disease.
The Harm Principle
You can only make someone do something they don’t want to if it is to prevent harm to others. We are obligated to protect the most vulnerable and those who cannot protect themselves from disease.
Exploring Ethical Issues
Select one ethical issue related to vaccination or public health from Topic 7.3, 7.4 or from your own research to present to the class.
Share the issue with the class and explain the values, morals, or principles involved. Discuss how different people might view the issue from their perspectives.
Work through other ethical issues as a class, exploring the diversity of opinions and reasoning.
Debate Guidelines:
No Right or Wrong Answers: Ethical debates often have no clear “correct” answers, so focus on sharing perspectives.
Respect Each Other: Everyone’s opinion matters. Even if you disagree, listen and respond respectfully.
Stay Calm: It’s natural to feel strongly about certain topics, but emotional outbursts can make it harder for others to hear your point of view.
Different Lenses, Different Views: People see the world differently based on their experiences. These differences don’t make their views wrong, just unique.
Reflection Questions
- Which ethical principle (e.g., autonomy, utilitarianism, harm prevention) resonated most with you, and why?
- How did hearing different perspectives help you better understand the complexities of ethical decision-making?
- Were there any arguments or views shared by your classmates that surprised you?
- How do you think ethical principles like those discussed should influence public health policies?