Ethical Issues in Health Promotion and Health Education

With the increasing number of wellness and health promotion programs appearing in hospitals, clinics, industry. business, schools, and the community, it seems an appropriate time to address ethical concerns relating to health promotion programs. Health educators, nurses, medical personnel, and psychologists are often involved in programs dealing with health promotion and behavior change leading to more positive health practices. A major advantage for clarifying ethical issues is the clearer delineation of professional roles in health promotion. Since many professionals are involved in health promotion including behavior change programs, it is important to define the roles and standards for various groups and more importantly, the ethical standards involved collectively. This ethical clarification should enable professional groups to identify and understand appropriate and inappropriate professional actions