APHA books showcase ethical issues in public health practice.

DURING the past decade, ethical issues in public health research and practice have grown to occupy a prominent place in the public health landscape. With the release of new editions of two APHA-published books, "Ethics in Epidemiology and Public Health Practice" and "Case Studies in Public Health Ethics," students and public health professionals will be even better equipped to identify and solve a variety of ethics-related concerns.

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Important advances in public health ethics have occurred at a rapid pace since the start of the decade, said Steven Coughlin, PhD, MPH, the books' author.

"The goal of both books is to update readers about these important developments," said Coughlin, a senior epidemiologist at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., and an adjunct professor of epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.

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The second edition of "Ethics in Epidemiology and Public Health Practice" updates and expands the topics covered in the first edition, Coughlin said. An anthology of articles written or coauthored by Coughlin, the book covers topics such as ethical issues in epidemiologic research, public health practice, ethics instruction and ethics guidelines for epidemiologists. The book also discusses a number of theoretical and applied aspects of public health ethics at public health agencies and institutions, including general ethical principles and organizational ethics.

In the dozen years since "Case Studies in Public Health Ethics" first made its way into the hands of graduate students and practicing public health professionals, the body of literature on the topic has increased greatly, Coughlin said. The growing interest in ethical issues in epidemiologic research, public health practice and health policy reflects public health's important role in society, he said, as well as the increased concerns of public health professionals, researchers, policy-makers and the general public about the integrity of health information, the elimination of health disparities, the equitable allocation of limited health care resources, emergency preparedness and response as well as environmental and other social problems.

Organized into 17 chapters, the second edition of "Case Studies in Public Health Ethics" covers issues of privacy and confidentiality protection, informed consent in public health research, the ethics of randomized trials, vulnerable populations, genetic discrimination, AIDS prevention and treatment, health care reform, scientific misconduct, conflicts of interest, intellectual property and more.

"Ethics in Epidemiology and Public Health Practice, Second Edition" and "Case Studies in Public Health Ethics, Second Edition" are available for $24.50 for APHA members and $35 for others. Purchased together, the cost is $35 for members and $50 for others. To purchase one or both books, visit www.aphabookstore.org.