Ethical Issues in Healthcare

Ethical Issues in Healthcare

Ethical dilemmas within healthcare revolve around the ethical principles guiding decision-making for medical professionals. The application of ethical values varies depending on the country and cultural background.

These ethical standards fall under the domain of medical ethics and are crucial in a healthcare setting. This branch of applied ethics focuses on the moral choices that professionals make concerning medical policies and practices.

In this article, we will delve into the principles of healthcare ethics, provide examples, differentiate between legal and ethical issues, and outline some of the primary ethical concerns in healthcare. We also have a team of experts ready to assist students from various academic levels with online assignment help on ethical healthcare issues. Please connect with us through our customer support team for assistance.

Principles of Healthcare Ethics

The principles of healthcare ethics serve as a guide for healthcare professionals when faced with ethical dilemmas in their practice. These dilemmas can often be resolved through communication with patients to understand their desires and needs. The four main principles of healthcare ethics include:

1. Autonomy

Autonomy is a fundamental principle that ensures patients actively participate in decisions regarding their care, support, or treatment. Ethical issues related to autonomy arise when medical staff or relatives attempt to influence or make decisions on behalf of patients without their consent. It’s important to note that autonomy may not apply to individuals who are unable to make autonomous decisions, such as those who are mentally or physically incapacitated, detainees, infants, and children. Respecting autonomy requires healthcare providers to disclose medical information and treatment options necessary for patients to make informed decisions.

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2. Beneficence

Beneficence encompasses qualities like charity, mercy, generosity, and kindness. It represents an altruistic approach, seeking what is best for others. Assessing the best interests of patients is a key responsibility of medical professionals when delivering healthcare.

3. Justice

The principle of justice dictates that patients should receive fair and equitable treatment. The distribution of healthcare resources should be based on people’s needs, contributions, or merits. Ethical issues arise in healthcare when staff fail to attend to patients based on factors like ethnicity, race, economic status, or sexual orientation.

4. Nonmaleficence

Nonmaleficence underscores the healthcare provider’s duty not to harm the patient. This principle supports moral rules such as “do not cause harm or pain,” “do not incapacitate,” “do not kill,” “do not deny someone the joy of life,” or “do not cause offense.” Nonmaleficence is applied when physicians must weigh the disadvantages and advantages of all treatments and interventions. Ethical issues in healthcare emerge when physicians fail to opt for methods that cause less pain and suffering to patients, such as neglecting the use of pain-relieving drugs like opioids in treating acute postoperative pain. Ethical dilemmas also occur in end-of-life situations, where caregivers must decide between withdrawing or withholding life-supporting machines.

Top Ethical Issues in Healthcare

Numerous ethical issues revolve around patient-doctor interactions, informed consent, and confidentiality. Here are some of the prominent ethical issues in healthcare:

1. Doctor-Patient Confidentiality

Establishing a private connection between patients and doctors is essential. It fosters trust and enables patients to share personal feelings and confidential medical histories. This allows doctors to make accurate diagnoses and treatment plans. Doctors are responsible for safeguarding patient privacy and securing their medical records. Ethical issues arise in healthcare when patient records are accessed by unauthorized individuals, or when medical information is withheld from patients without their consent.

2. Informed Consent

Patients have the right to fully understand and consent to any medical diagnosis or procedure before it is carried out. Informed consent entails a comprehensive understanding of the benefits, risks, alternatives, and potential consequences of a diagnosis or treatment. Healthcare providers must explain the patient’s condition, treatment plan, benefits, risks, alternatives, and the consequences of inaction. Patients should have the opportunity to decide on their treatment options. Ethical issues arise when physicians fail to provide sufficient information, ensure patient comprehension, or pressure patients into making decisions against their better judgment. Failure to obtain a signed consent form may also constitute an ethical issue in healthcare.

3. Access to Care

Access to affordable healthcare services should be available to all, regardless of whether they have medical coverage. One current issue in healthcare is the cost of healthcare services, which poses challenges for many patients, particularly low-income individuals who cannot afford insurance or medical coverage. A shortage of healthcare staff is another ethical concern, resulting in long wait times for patients and potentially leading to negligence in service delivery due to overworked caregivers.

4. Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide

Euthanasia involves intentionally ending a patient’s life to relieve suffering, while physician-assisted suicide entails providing medication to a competent patient to enable them to end their own life. These practices are considered ethical issues in healthcare. While they may alleviate patient suffering, they raise questions about beneficence and the patient’s right to choose. Legal and ethical concerns surround these practices, even when requested by the patient.

5. Malpractice and Negligence

Malpractice refers to medical errors or negligence resulting from unjustified mistakes. Negligence occurs when healthcare providers possess knowledge but fail to apply it, leading to harm. Malpractice and negligence are ethical issues in healthcare that can result in serious health complications. The high-risk nature of healthcare environments can increase the likelihood of malpractice. Healthcare professionals must fulfill their responsibilities in patient care to prevent legal actions. Hospital negligence can result from delayed treatment, misdiagnosis, or the use of faulty medical equipment.

Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare

As the healthcare system evolves, healthcare professionals, patients, and families encounter ethical and legal decisions related to medical practices, treatments, and hospital management. The healthcare system operates under ethical standards, laws, rules, and regulations. These laws define the responsibilities of medical staff and protect patients when making decisions about the type of care they wish to receive in healthcare facilities.

Distinguishing Between Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare

Ethical standards do not necessarily need to be rooted in legality. They are based on fundamental principles of right and wrong. Government-established legal standards inform patients of what is not allowed, with violations punishable by law due to regulation. Ethical standards, on the other hand, are not regulated.

Examples of legal issues in healthcare include:

1. Healthcare System Malpractice and Tort Reform:

Tort reforms are implemented by governments to reduce global malpractice and negligence risks, lower overall healthcare costs, and curb unnecessary medical services.

2. False Claims and Whistleblower Suits:

These legal actions aim to detect healthcare fraud and abuse by dishonest providers, suppliers, and physicians. They protect the government from healthcare fraud and help recover funds disbursed due to fraudulent claims.

3. Antitrust Issues and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs):

ACOs comprise healthcare providers, hospitals, and doctors working together to offer high-quality healthcare to patients. They aim to reduce medical costs and enhance service quality.

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