Running head: CASE STUDY OF HEALTH CARE ETHICS.

CASE STUDY OF HEALTH CARE ETHICS

STUDENT’S NAME

INSTITIUTION’S NAME

COURSE

DATE.
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CASE STUDY OF HEALTH CARE ETHICS

Bulgaria is one of the countries with the highest level of morbidity from cardiovascular diseases.

Concurrently Bulgaria also boasts of the highest numbers of cigarette smokers compared to the

other central and eastern European countries. These alarming data adds to the concerns of public

health the increase in exposure of tobacco smoke to non-smokers. Research has confirmed that

one can have up to thirty per cent increase in the risk of having heart issues from exposure to

second-hand tobacco smoke. As a member of the European Union, Bulgarian legislations have

had to be harmonized with the European legislation to protect public health interests.

When to limit personal autonomy to benefit public health.

Risk factors of smoking tobacco are not limited to direct smokers only. Exposure to tobacco

smokes could lead to children developing asthma, pneumonia and other allergic conditions.

Passive smokers also have an increased odds of succumbing to heart issues like their smoking

counterparts. When non-smokers are threatened with the same risk factors, they must be

protected by legislation that limits smokers' liberties, for the benefit of the general public health.

Public health interests versus economic interests.

It is essential not to pit economic interests against public health interests. The economic success

of a country is highly dependent on the health of its citizens. When Bulgaria enacted the law that

prohibited smoking in all indoor public places, many businesses reported a lot of losses. A

compromise was however reached, where there were designated places for smoking in these

places. These ensured a flourish in the affected sectors like bar and restaurants, while also

securing the health of the non-smokers that visited these places too. The law was flexibly applied

by maintaining public health as a priority.

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How to best influence good health habits in communities.

In a community where citizens are not conditioned to feel responsible for their health and that of

others, legislation is the best possible way to strong-arm them into good habits. Enacted

legislations carry consequences like fines or jail terms when they are not properly adhered. Using

the law is a safe bet in making sure that the community protect their public health interests, even

when they do not it out of their own free will. However, these communities should be educated

on the necessities of the laws enacted and how it will be in their benefit to abide by those laws.