Papers include a historical analysis of judicial decisions related to public health, a discussion of the value conflicts involved in reporting disease, and an examination of the practical and ethical issues related to proposals to quarantine people who test positive for the AIDS virus. Further papers consider the problems involved in compulsory legal or regulatory measures to control AIDS and the role of legal moralism in laws related to homosexuality. The authors conclude that compulsory and wide-ranging efforts such as screening, reporting, isolation, and quarantine are unjustified on scientific, legal, or ethical grounds. However, limited programs that are carefully planned and implemented can be effective under some circumstances and with adequate protections for individuals. Finally, society's emphasis should be on education and efforts to promote voluntary responsible behavior. Reference lists with individual papers.