Narrative Ethics in Public Health: The Value of Stories

This Open Access book showcases the power of stories to address ethical concerns in public health, complementing epidemiological evidence and revealing stakeholder perspectives. It introduces the field of public health ethics and narrative ethics, exploring problems and challenges from the inside. The book consists of 14 chapters, including first-person narratives and analysis of published short stories, addressing issues such as justice, surveillance, stigma, community values, trust, information, freedom, and responsibility.

Format: Hardback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 13 April 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This Open Access book showcases the remarkable ability of stories to shed light on ethical dilemmas that arise in the realm of public health. It serves as a valuable complement to epidemiological or surveillance evidence, providing insights into the perspectives of stakeholders that are essential for public health practitioners to create effective and ethical public health interventions. By harnessing the inherent and universal appeal of stories, the book also serves as an introduction to the field of public health for students considering a career in this field.

The opening section of the book serves as a pedagogical introduction to public health ethics and the field of narrative ethics. It provides an overview of the field of public health ethics, encompassing ethical principles relevant to public health practice and research. It also highlights the advantages of adopting a narrative ethics approach, which delves into the problems and ethical challenges of public health from the perspective of individuals who are directly affected by health issues, as well as those responsible for addressing these challenges.

The subsequent sections consist of 14 chapters, each presented in a narrative style that encompasses a range of formats, including first-person narratives from practitioners and citizens, as well as analysis of published short stories. These chapters explore a wide array of public health problems and challenges, including justice concerns, surveillance and stigma, community values, trust, the value of information, freedom, and responsibility. Specific public health topics addressed include resource allocation, the balance between restricting liberty to protect communities from health threats, and the impact of trauma, addiction, obesity, and health disparities on health outcomes.

By presenting these stories in a narrative format, the book offers a unique and engaging way to understand and address public health issues. It encourages readers to consider different perspectives and to engage in ethical deliberation, ultimately contributing to the development of more informed and compassionate public health policies and practices.

Weight: 559g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030914431
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022