Glossary

This ethical principle requires that the risks, benefits, and burdens of public health

action be fairly distributed. (1) view distributive justice as the “fair, equitable, and

appropriate distribution in society determined by justified norms that structure the terms

of social cooperation”. Global justice is social justice on a global scale and it requires

countries, particularly developed countries, to ensure not only that their own citizens

are protected, but also that other countries, particularly developing countries, have the

The impact of a health problem as measured by financial cost, mortality, morbidity, or

other indicators. It is often a qualitative (rather than quantitative) indicator.

Distinction between individuals not based on legitimate terms; arbitrary bias for or

against an individual or a group that fails to take true account of their characteristics or

treat an individual or a group in a just and equitable manner. Discrimination can be

based on age, birth, color, creed, disability, ethnic origin, familial status, gender,

language, marital status, political or other opinion, public assistance, race, religion or

belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

In its ideal sense, democracy is the notion that ‘the people’should have control of the

government ruling over them. This ideal is pursued by implementing a system of voting

such that the majority of people rule, either directly or indirectly through elected

representatives.

Ideally, democracy encompasses not only a civilian, constitutional, multiparty regime,

with regular, free and fair elections and universal suffrage, but organizational and

informational pluralism; extensive civil liberties (freedom of expression, freedom of the