Hurricane Katrina, an influenza pandemic, and a host of other real and potential public health disasters have spurred an examination of laws on the books regarding public health emergencies.
Steve Shakman, legal affairs coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Health's Office of Emergency Preparedness, says knowledge of public health law is essential for public health practitioners at all levels. Shakman and Karen Janisch, general counsel to Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, co-taught a new institute course this year titled Special Laws in Emergencies, which drew students from across the country.
In addition to reviewing quarantine laws, learning how different levels of authority are determined during an emergency, and discussing legal protections available to volunteers, students engaged in ethical discussions that often form the basis for legislation around public health issues. The recent case of the tuberculosis patient traveling on planes from the United States to Europe and back provided a current example of the issues public health officials and policymakers must grapple with.
Class discussions were often led by guest experts from the U.S. Attorney's office, the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies. Janisch, who brought a wealth of practical experience to the classroom, having dealt with various federal agencies during disasters in Minnesota, says she was delighted by the diversity of experience of the students in the class.
"There were people who work in emergency management, those with a scientific background, and those just getting their feet wet in public health." She says students had a chance to learn from each other when they broke into teams to plan how they would apply the issues discussed in class to real-life scenarios.
Return to: School of Public Health : Academic Health Center : myU : U of M Home
