The precautionary principle: is it safe.
Eur J Health Law
; 20(3): 261-70, 2013 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23984492
ABSTRACT
The precautionary principle is generally acknowledged to be a powerful tool for protecting health but it was originally invoked by policy makers for dealing with environmental issues. In the 1990s, the principle was incorporated into many legislative and regulatory texts in international law. One can consider that the precautionary principle has turned into "precautionism" necessary to prove to the people, taking account of risk in decisions. There is now a risk that these abuses will deprive the principle of its meaning and value. When pushed to its limits, the precautionary principle can even be dangerous when applied to the healthcare field. This is why a critical analysis of the principle is necessary. Through the literature, it sometimes seems to deviate somehow from the essence of the precautionary principle as it is commonly used in relation to health. We believe that educational work is necessary to familiarize professionals, policy makers and public opinion of the precautionary principle and avoid confusion. We propose a critical analysis of the use and misuse of the precautionary principle.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Public Health
/
Decision Making
/
Health Policy
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Eur J Health Law
Journal subject:
JURISPRUDENCIA
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2013
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France
Publication country:
HOLANDA
/
HOLLAND
/
NETHERLANDS
/
NL
/
PAISES BAJOS
/
THE NETHERLANDS