When worlds collide:: Public health and union rights in Virginia Mason Hospital v Washington State Nurses Association

This installment of Law and the public's Health reports on Virginia Mason Hospital v Washington State Nurses Association, a case that illustrates what happens under the law when public health policy imperatives are expressed in vague and ambiguous terms rather than as explicit regulatory standards governing private conduct. In this case, the private conduct in question involved a collective bargaining agreement (CBA); the decision underscores the degree of deference that the law gives to such agreements even in matters of public health safety, in the absence of legal requirements to the contrary, and regardless of the strength of the evidence that supports the underlying public health policy. Following an overview of the decision, the column considers its implications for Public health policy and practice.