Brigit Toebes appointed in the Chair Health Law in a Global Context

Brigit Toebes has been appointed in the Chair Health Law in a Global Context. This Chair is aimed at analysing and teaching health law, with an emphasis on the role that international legal standards play in this field.

Health law is a multi-faceted discipline encompassing international, European and domestic law, and which is also interconnected with other sciences including medical and health science, health economics and international relations. In her position as Member of the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health Toebes will interact with these other disciplines.

Questions concerning the nature and scope of public health law play a central role in Toebes her research, especially when it comes to the role of law in reducing behavioural risk factors like smoking and unhealthy diet. Other important themes where Toebes is focusing on concern the role of law in reducing health inequalities, unequal access to medicines, and the protection of reproductive health. Health law as a discipline is evolving constantly due to the on-going development of new medical technologies.

International and European legal standards play an important role in the adequate regulation of health-related concerns. Particular attention will be paid to the standards resulting from international and regional human rights treaties, raising the question how these protect the vulnerability of individuals in health-related settings.

Institutional aspects of health systems, including the role of the World Health Organization and other international and regional organisations will also be addressed, as well as health accountability mechanisms.