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The article focuses the significance of medical laws in the prevention of chronic diseases, particularly obesity, in the U.S. It discusses core elements of public health legal preparedness, including laws and legal authorities, competency in applying laws and legal authorities and information on pubic health law and best practices. Moreover, it examines the application of these elements to obesity prevention in the country.

The article discusses public health emergencies in the U.S., which include plagues and famines, epidemics, and industrial accidents. It notes that the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 and the anthrax scare bring public health emergencies in the prime concern, and is considered as a great threat to national security. It also mentions that the need for legal preparedness for public health emergencies become the driving force for the 2007 National Summit for Public Health Legal Preparedness.

Examines the public health legal preparedness as a goal. Evaluation of current efforts to strenghthen public health's legal preparedness; Presentation of a conceptual framework for use in achieving full public health legal preparedness; Components of comprehensive public health legal preparedness.

Focuses on the dimensions of public health law research in the U.S. Accounts on the social determinant of health; Effects of legal practices on public health outcomes; Use of multidisciplinary approach to study public health law.

Describes the building of the legal foundation for an effective public health system in the U.S. Improvement of the system's capacity in the context of evolving health challenges; Factors affecting the delivery of essential public health services; Provision of public health services to state residents.

Focuses on the teaching of public health law in law schools in the U.S. Course description; Issues in injury control; Discussion of public health program management in a managed care legal framework.

Focuses on the applications of law to public health issues. Improvement of legal prepareness to terrorism and other public health emergencies; Benefit of the presence of a rich-network of non-profit associations and other institutions; Requirement for fulfilling the goal of public health legal preparedness.

Reports the types of law implemented underlying public health in the U.S. Implementation of compulsory vaccination; Legislation of Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970; Creation of public health agencies.

A preface for the March 2008 issue of the "Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics," is presented.

The article provides information on the 2006 Health Care Reform Act of Massachusetts as discussed by John E. McDonough and Anthony D. Moulton. Moulton gives an insight of McDonough's life and career as a legislative officer in Massachusetts. On the other hand, McDonough presents an overview of the 2006 Health Care Reform Act of Massachusetts which enacts mandatory health insurance coverage for all of its citizens.

Health care providers and their legal counsel play pivotal roles in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. Lawyers representing hospitals, health systems, and other health care provider components are being called upon to answer complex legal questions regarding public health preparedness issues that most providers have not previously faced. Many of these issues are legal issues with which public health officials should be familiar, and that can serve as a starting point for cross-sector legal preparedness planning involving both the public health and health care communities. This article examines legal issues that health care providers face in preparing for public health emergencies, and steps that providers, their legal counsel, and others can take to address those issues and to strengthen community preparedness.