PoPulationand Public HealtH etHics

The principle-based approach to ethical analysis, in deciding if one chosen
action is more ethical than another, requires first that we recognize the inherent
tensions among the various ethical principles. And, because no one
principle takes precedence over any other, we must consider, under each of
the various principles, the weight of argument in support of each respective
principle. The resulting recommended action then can be defended according
to a transparent, documented rationale, allowing for greater accountability
for the action taken. Our aim in pursuing an ethical analysis is to maximize
the advantages relative to the disadvantages under each of the respective
ethical principles that bear on the question at hand.
The generic problem-solving model for ethical decision-making comprises
five steps: 4
1 Gather all relevant information
2 Specify clearly all components of the identified ethical dilemma
3 Specify all options as possible courses of action
4 Select a single best alternative
5 Act and review
This five-step paradigm will be applied in the analysis of this case.
The key population/public health issues
First, industrial activity of any kind has health implications, both good and
bad. On the good side, employment and economic activity contribute to health
and social well-being, especially in the short-term. Indeed, refined oil helps
keep the wheels of industry turning and brings revenues into the province of
Alberta and Canada as a whole, adding to both short-term economic prosperity
and growth, locally and nationally. On the negative side, some industrial
activities cause both worker and environmental harms, especially over the
medium-longer terms, where chronic exposure to toxicants can result in diseases
with a long latency period, such as cancer. And, on the global scale,
growth is seen by some as unsustainable, with the potential to add to global
environmental burdens that may result in ecological system failures with
consequent calamitous harms.
Alberta oil sands
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