The Ethical Principles of Public Health
Hillsdale College Academy for Science and Freedom

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, EPPC President Ryan T. Anderson, Senior Fellow Roger Severino, and Fellow Aaron Kheriaty were among the co-authors and signatories to a Hillsdale College statement arguing for the public health principles necessary to re-establish a relationship of credibility and mutual trust between key institutions and the people they serve.

The document made the following claims, among others:

All public health advice should consider the impact on overall health, rather than solely be concerned with a single disease. It should always consider both benefits and harms from public health measures and weigh short-term gains against long-term harms.

Public health requires public trust. Public health recommendations should present facts as the basis for guidance, and never employ fear or shame to sway or manipulate the public.

In public health, open civilized debate is profoundly important. It is unacceptable for public health professionals to censor, silence or intimidate members of the public or other public health scientists or practitioners.