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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2007.121145v1 98/1/8    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by de Camargo, K. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by de Camargo, K. R., Jr Related Collections Health Policy Access to Care Quality of Care Socioeconomic Factors Health Reform

Kenneth Rochel de Camargo, Jr, MD, PhD

International Associate Editor, American Journal of Public Health

	Because this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

Health care is a normative enterprise. Health care professionals propose or order changes in the way their clients live their lives, from minor adjustments to radical overhauls in lifestyle, and from cosmetic changes to massive surgical interventions in the body. Public health is particularly normative; we propose interventions for entire populations that often turn into state-backed mandatory procedures.

Health care and public health professionals strive to achieve ethical goals—a better, healthier life for individuals and populations—through the judicious application of measures based on a trusted body of knowledge, our source of authority. Professionals and clients have confidence that recommended interventions . . . [Full Text]