And Justice for All...

"In the end, the field of public health is caught in a dilemma. If it conceives
of itself too narrowly, public health will be accused of lacking vision.
It will fail to see the root causes of ill health and will fail to utilize
the broad range of social, economic, scientific, and behavioral tools necessary
to achieve a healthier population. If, however, public health conceives
of itself too expansively, it will be accused of overreaching and
invading a sphere reserved for politics, not science. The field will lose
its ability to explain its mission and functions in comprehensible terms
and, consequently, to sell public health in the marketplace of politics
and priorities."
-Professor Lawrence O. Gostin
"A Theory and Definition of Public Health Law in Public Health Law Power, Duty, Restraint"
September 2008 - Georgetown University Law Center

After skimming through some of Professor Gostin's writings on the issue of Public Health Law, I am fully aware that my comments will not do this topic "justice" - but I will try. There is a message that Professor Gostin seemingly resonates throughout his paper: the field of public health walks a very thin line. It is neither economics nor politics; it does not fall under medical services, but may lean upon its shoulders from time to time; it undoubtedly requires support from the field of R&D, but won't exhibit its benefits/failures until the findings have been implemented and seen to stand the test of time. Ultimately, with so many tangibles intertwined with the field of public health, it may have trouble finding its own identity.

Professor Gostin's description of justice is profound, but finds itself far from being attained with respect to the current climate of health care policy in the United States. Part of America's promise shaped in the past few decades has been the guarantees of economic freedoms to her citizens, assuring them that government will keep its hands off their wallets and allow the spirit of competition, the market place, and hard-work be the driving forces for success. It is the culture we find ourselves in today. It is what public health must adapt to, work with, and be able to use its far-reaching powers in order to shape and change that culture accordingly. Increased funding for public health and prevention is an approach, but not a solution. Public health must help drive a notion that health care should not just be perceived as an individual responsibility, but a social task involving multiple classes, individuals with various occupations, and ultimately have ambitions to educate the target audience with regards to what their health means and how it can be managed. Policymakers must be able to not only lead, but listen! Listen to those who feel excluded from "justice"; listen to health care providers, economists, the public and private sector, and the education sector; listen to individuals like Professor Gostin, who've spent better parts of their lives on issues such as this. Maybe if policymakers realize they don't know as much about the issues as they think, it can be the first step of something REALLY BIG!