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From Debatepedia

Overview

Definitions

Public Health Concerns

There is some debate over what, exactly, is included under the term "public health". The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as "A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (in a community)" but other definitions include nutritional, spiritual and intellectual "health" as well. An important case study is that of the AIDS epidemic.

Justify

The word justify is particularly important in this resolution because of the many different connatations it can carry. Princeton wordnet definitions range from "absolve, let off the hook" to "show to be right" and "show to be reasonable." Thus, it is not necessary on the Affirmative to defend public health concerns as making morally right the government violation of phamaceutical patents, but simply state that it is excusable. The Negative however can equally defend "justify" to carry some kind of moral weight.

Government Violation of Pharmaceutical Patents

When a pharmaceutical company first releases a drug on the market, it is generally patented, or registered so that no one other than the company can sell it. This includes other companies, individuals, and the governnment. Thus, a government violation of a pharmaceutical patent would be when the government markets the patenented drugs. This is done for a variety of reasons, including to battle nation or worldwide epidemics, so that if, for example, a cure for AIDS was discovered, many governments might strongly consider violating whatever patent it was registered under.

Affirming the Topic

Negating the Topic

Further Reading

External links