Most people agree that preventing diseases in the first place is far better than trying to cure them after people get sick. These and other generally unexamined questions about health promotion and disease prevention will be discussed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 11 and 12, at consecutive conferences in southern and northern California. N.Y. Funding for the conferences is provided by the California Wellness Foundation and the Walter and Elise Haas Fund. A panel of researchers will present the project's findings, with commentary by leaders in public health, health promotion and managed care. People's general acceptance of health promotion and disease prevention as worthy goals tends to obscure the social and ethical dilemmas raised by efforts to attain those goals, according to Barbara Koenig, executive director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics.
Attendance is free and the conferences are open to the general public.
Anyone who wishes to attend is asked to reserve a space by registering in advance.