Summary

With a number of public health panics emerging in the past few years, most recently the panic over 'swine flu' in 2009, the publication of this two volume collection is extremely timely. These two volumes cover the complete range of issues relating to the ethics of public health. Topics include the relationship with bioethics, questions of governance, public health and human rights, surveillance and privacy, prevention and its limits, confinement and liberty, as well as detailed case studies of previous and continuing crises relating to HIV and AIDS, SARS, bioterrorism, climate change, avian flu and tobacco control. There are sections also on genetic health, public health and equity, and public health and the developing world. The two volumes include nearly 75 articles by leading thinkers, and are accompanied by Michael Freeman's detailed introduction and full bibliography.