The health department in a poor community with major dental health care needs is invited by a local fast food restaurant to be a partner on a dental health project. The restaurant, with support from its soda vendor, proposes to donate $1,50,000 a year to a free health department dental clinic. In exchange, the restaurant only wants to have its name and the name of the soda listed in very small print on the health department educational material on dental health that is distributed to the community. Two health department officials, including the nutritionist directing the obesity program, believe such a partnership is unethical. What would you advise the health commissioner?
In your response, include a discussion on: the key issues from the perspective of the health department officials (i.e., vulnerable populations, community relationships), who are the stakeholders (who has a stake in the decision), and what would you propose (justify your proposal) and develop a recommendation for the health commissioner. What would the decision be? What are the reasons for their decisions that they would provide the public?