Speaker: John Jacobi

Law plays a critical role in protecting Americans from public health emergencies--such as the anthrax attacks of October 2001, the SARS epidemic, and potential pandemic West Nile Virus and other infectious disease outbreaks. Law makes equally important contributions to chronic disease prevention, environmental health protection, prevention of injury and disability, and the ownership of exotic pets. This seminar will focus on developing the participant?s perspective on New Jersey State law and public health. It is designed to give fundamental information about the power of state government and its role as legal guardian over public health issues and the promotion of health for individuals and society. Participants will be given a perspective on how legal guardianship plays out in the lives of the individual and the society in general. Participants will be given a non-legal understanding on how to develop a lawful response to public health issues that takes into consideration how the Constitution, federal and state law will affect such a response.