This chapter helps the student to define public health and public health ethics, to differentiate public health ethics from clinical ethics, and to describe the ethical tensions inherent in addressing public health problems. It also helps the student to discuss different theoretical approaches and principles used in public health ethics and to apply a public health framework in analyzing the development of a new program or policy. The chapter presents ethical principles involved in implementing programs and designing policies in the community. Within both clinical and public health ethics, it is important to examine the theory and principles guiding normative behavior. The principles that have particular relevance of public health ethics are paternalism, human rights, and social justice. Disparities in health are often driven by social determinants that include socioeconomic status, social structure, education, social position, racism, and discrimination.