Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Lawrence Gostin

J.D. Course 364 | 3 credit hours

This course is intended to provoke thought and legal and ethical debate over pressing public policy issues surrounding the major health problems facing America and globally— e.g., infectious diseases, smoking, obesity, violence, injuries, and the environment. First, the course will examine the foundations of public health law in the United States. This section will discuss the powers and duties of government to assure the conditions for a healthy and safe population. Second, the course will examine the conflicts between public health and civil liberties. For example, the course will probe conflicts between: (1) injury and disease surveillance and privacy; (2) labeling and advertising restrictions and free expression; (3) personal control measures (e.g., screening, forced medical treatment and quarantine) and liberty; (4) commercial public health regulation and property rights. Finally, the course will examine the future of public health law. This "Future" includes a careful analysis of biosecurity-- both naturally occurring (e.g., H1N1 Influenza and Hurricane Sandy) and intentional (e.g., bioterrorism such as the anthrax attacks after September 11, 2001. This course should be important for all students considering careers in health law as well as those simply interested in exploring and debating the state of public health in America. It is a particularly unique opportunity for students because of Georgetown Law's O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.