Can One Health Policy Help Us Expand an Ethics of Interconnection and Interdependence?

Abstract

One Health-a holistic approach to health that brings the moral status of animals and environments into consideration-is understood as a “professional imperative, ” a value-laden obligation that flows from the scope and objectives of professional roles. In this article, antimicrobial resistance provides a case study to demonstrate the fruitfulness of public health and bioethics collaborations by applying One Health key concepts of interconnection and interdependence. Moving toward an ethics of One Health requires a more nuanced analysis of ecological relationships, including humans' connections to other species as hosts, vectors, domestic companions, meat-eaters' food, and farmers' livelihood.