Topic chosen: Do the benefits of water fluoridation justify its imposition? 3 REFERENCES 9 Topic chosen: Do the benefits of water fluoridation justify its imposition?

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Water fluoridation is the process of supply of fluoridated water for drinking purposes through common supply chains. This assignment is based on understanding the ethical and legal issues in the healthcare, especially the bioethical aspects to know the contributing perspectives about water fluoridation. However, it is well documented that fluoridation has mild negative effects in terms of viable alternations in the appearance or rise of fluorine levels in the body (Rugg-Gunn et al.

Topic chosen: Do the benefits of water fluoridation justify its imposition? 3 REFERENCES 9 Topic chosen: Do the benefits of water fluoridation justify its imposition?

Added on 2021-01-02

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Topic chosen: Do the benefits of water fluoridation justify its imposition? 3 REFERENCES 9 Topic chosen: Do the benefits of water fluoridation justify its imposition?_1

TABLE OF CONTENTSTopic chosen: Do the benefits of water fluoridation justify itsimposition?.......................................................................................................................................3REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

Topic chosen: Do the benefits of water fluoridation justify itsimposition?Water fluoridation is the process of supply of fluoridated water for drinking purposesthrough common supply chains. It is useful in preventing the targeted population from any toothdecay or any enamel/pulp related issue (Morabia, 2016). However, there are more negativeimplications that has put questions on this process and its relevance in the recent times at theworldwide levels. Many social workers, environmentalists and other authorities are trying toregulate this process on minimal levels and promoting programs to generate awareness amongpublic (Iheozor‐Ejiofor et al., 2015). This assignment is based on understanding the ethical andlegal issues in the healthcare, especially the bioethical aspects to know the contributingperspectives about water fluoridation. It will include ethical theories including deontology andutilitarianism and its connection with understanding the components for this process. Along with,there is also emphasis on the role of healthcare professionals and their outlooks regarding thepreventive measures of this process and mitigate its effects.It is important to understand that water fluoridation has its pros and cons, however thereis need to differentiate between its relevance and imposition. The overall impact here is on thebasis of ethical and legal standards and must be considered to understand its imposition. Thisprocess has been undertaken of adding fluoride in the supply of drinking water via public watersupply to minimise the decaying of teeth (Peckham, S., & Awofeso, N. (2014). Water fluoridation: a criticalreview of the physiological effects of ingested fluoride as a public health intervention.The Scientific World Journal,2014.).More so, it has been proved useful for both children and adults. From several studies it has beenfound out that tooth decay is one of the concerns of the health and social care sector. For e.g.efficacy in adults has been reduced to around 30 percent and in children and kids, approximately37 percent cavities has been minimised (Lippert and Juthani, 2015). However, it is welldocumented that fluoridation has mild negative effects in terms of alternations in the appearanceor rise of fluorine levels in the body (Rugg-Gunn et al., 2016). This totally depends upon thewater intake, especially from the drinking water supply for public.Consequently, the water fluoridation is one of the mass level preventive measures and hasimpacted the community in the most effectual ways. It has substantially managed the risks andhas been referred as the culturally viable option for few vulnerable groups. According to Laudon(2016) it must be understandable that human rights and health are inter connected due to the

presence of ethical code of conduct which ensures an overlapping of principles and welfareobjective. This paves the path of measuring the biophysical and psychological status of peopleby giving treatment for existing conditions. Here the water fluoridation occurs in the name ofpublic health measure but there is no accountability from the regulatory bodies or healthinstitutions regarding the aftermath of it (Schneider, 2016). The public is consuming this waterwithout realising the overall impact on their bodies and the environment as well. Laudon (2016)also supported saying that with continuous consumption of this water, the levels of fluorine inthe human body gets extended from the desirable range and impact the well being of humans.Although it is found that it helps in dental caries prevention and has assisted in improving theoral hygiene. There is also no concrete evidence that has reflected upon any diseases which tookplace due to deficiency of fluoride in humans.Simultaneously, according to Kerzner (2017), the regulatory bodies like NHS,CQC, etc.with public health services related organisations must have been vigilant and tried to minimisedthis process through proper interventions. Professionals like doctors, nurses and more wouldhave also participated to mitigate the risks and other damages to the human bodies. It was foundin the year by 2017 when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition due tolack of scientific proof regarding the harmful effects of fluoridated water (McKinley, D. C., Miller-Rushing, A. J., Ballard, H. L., Bonney, R., Brown, H., Cook-Patton, S. C., ... & Ryan, S. F. (2017). Citizen science canimprove conservation science, natural resource management, and environmental protection.Biological Conservation,208,15-28.). They were not convinced that water fluoridation process releases neurotoxic harms,however one of the senior scientist maintained that the agency ignored the rising risks and musthave taken this type of harm in more serious manner.Laudon (2016) stated that this fluoridation process has been enforced on the publicthrough government led bodies and has no option to put a stop on it. There are also studies thatthere are beneficial effects by putting resistance on the formation of tooth cavities and help men,women, children and elderly. However, this enforcement is a clear violation of their principle ofautonomy or self-rule and this right holds the right to take decisions independently with thecomplete consensus. There is need to understand that autonomy can be practised only whenevery effort is discussed in fulfilling the patients' charts. Iheozor‐Ejiofor et al., (2015) critiquedthat it is mostly not practised in the healthcare setting and has an impact on the operations likewater fluoridation process. This right of autonomy must be exercised to bring a balance and help

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