Public health law establishes the delicate balance between individual autonomy and the greater well-being of the community at large. The significance of this interplay recently came to the forefront through the COVID-19 pandemic, where existing and novel laws were engaged to try to minimize transmission of the Coronavirus through quarantines, border closures, mask mandates and vaccine passports. However, public health law extends far beyond containing the acute spread of an infectious disease ' it affects our daily lives in countless ways. Among other things, public health law addresses the regulation of (1) intoxicants and prescription drugs; (2) environmental hazards (such as pollutants and waste management), (3) reproductive rights (such as abortion and surrogacy), (4) nutrition (such as food ingredients and labelling), (5) health care (including mandatory vaccinations and limits on blood donation); (6) emergency powers; and (7) protections for vulnerable minority communities. Public health is also heavily influenced by the social determinants of health, including access to and quality of healthcare, education, employment, housing, food security and social support. In this seminar course, we will consider how public health laws affect our daily lives from a practical lens using real-life public health issues. We will specifically examine relevant statutes and jurisprudence across criminal law, constitutional law, tort law, privacy law and administrative law. Students will gain a foundational understanding of public health law through readings, lectures, discussion and guest speakers. Students will also have the opportunity to tailor their learning experience by delving deeper into their specific areas of interest within public health law through written assignments and presentations.
Public health law establishes the delicate balance between individual autonomy and the greater well-being of the community at large. The significance of this interplay recently came to the forefront through the COVID-19 pandemic, where existing and novel laws were engaged to try to minimize transmission of the Coronavirus through quarantines, border closures, mask mandates and vaccine passports. However, public health law extends far beyond containing the acute spread of an infectious disease ' it affects our daily lives in countless ways. Among other things, public health law addresses the regulation of (1) intoxicants and prescription drugs; (2) environmental hazards (such as pollutants and waste management), (3) reproductive rights (such as abortion and surrogacy), (4) nutrition (such as food ingredients and labelling), (5) health care (including mandatory vaccinations and limits on blood donation); (6) emergency powers; and (7) protections for vulnerable minority communities. Public health is also heavily influenced by the social determinants of health, including access to and quality of healthcare, education, employment, housing, food security and social support. In this seminar course, we will consider how public health laws affect our daily lives from a practical lens using real-life public health issues. We will specifically examine relevant statutes and jurisprudence across criminal law, constitutional law, tort law, privacy law and administrative law. Students will gain a foundational understanding of public health law through readings, lectures, discussion and guest speakers. Students will also have the opportunity to tailor their learning experience by delving deeper into their specific areas of interest within public health law through written assignments and presentations.
