Ethics
One ethical dilemma that arises in health care is with respect to quality improvement techniques (Lynn et al., 2007). While it is accepted that quality improvement activities are an intrinsic part of normal health care operations (Ibid), administrators are obligated to ensure that QI activities are conducted in line with ethical guidelines. An ethical dilemma arises, however, when faced with the opportunity to make a quality improvement based on techniques that seem sound but perhaps lack empirical backing. The dilemma would then feature two pathways. The first is to opt to adopt the quality improvement idea before research has shown conclusively that it is effective, and the second pathway is to not adopt the QI tactic until it has been demonstrated effective. A specific example could be a radical new technique for a challenging condition -- it may not be proven but the situation may be so challenging that the use of a radical, unproven new technique to improve outcomes is considered. The administrator may be faced with a patient and physician seeking approval for a new technique that is unproven but has a chance to deliver better results than known techniques.
This dilemma qualifies under the category of "ethical issues in assuring quality of care." There are ethical considerations with respect to the use of peer review, for example. Should a new innovation be faced with research results that are unclear, or have not been subjected to peer review, there is risk to both the patient and to the health care organization. That said, a new technique might be necessary in order to increase the odds of positive patient...
Lack of a comprehensive education and lack of knowledge in EBP could lead many of the nurses that work in hospitals around the country to make errors, which would negatively affect the patient care and predispose them to increased chances of litigation. This issue also has the potential to undermine the support for evidence-based practice among many health care providers (Gerrish & Clayton, 2004). Evidence-based practice is also not restricted
" (p.1) it is related that no two hospitals have the same ethics and that this is as it should be because "life and death are too complicated for ethical uniformity, let alone universalism." (Leavitt, 2000, p.1) the American Medical Association, Council on Judicial and Ethics Affairs states that the hospital ethics committee should be voluntary, educational and advisory" in nature and that these committees should be used or consideration
Ethics in a Long-Term Healthcare Business Ethics in the health care industry spans a wide spectrum of activities and most of the obligations are cast by law on the professionals and the second by the common practice and morals of the profession. Both are important to the progress of the institution and also the health care industry. Compliance of statutes is of primary importance. Compliance There are many rules and statutes that must
Fox, R.F. (2001, November). Warning Advertising May Be Hazardous to Your Health: Ads Pose a Threat to Physical, Emotional, Social, and Cultural Well-Being. USA Today, Volume 130, Issue 2678, 62. The author discusses different types of advertising and promotion and finds ethical problems in the way many are handled, especially with reference to advertising and promoting goods and services to children. He cites the use of focus groups for toy companies
Ethical Analysis of Healthcare Rationing The topic of health care rationing has been the subject of debate in the U.S. The last few years as government expenditures on health care have far exceeded budgeted levels. Central to the concern is the ethical issue over whether it is better if fewer Americans profit with a greater amount of health resource allocation or if the majority benefit to a lesser degree for
Ethics in the nursing and occupational therapy communities is an ongoing concern that is being addressed in a number of different arenas and manners. This paper discusses national and international frameworks that have been created to address, define and provide ethical behavior guidelines for the healthcare communities that comprise measured and timely responses to the ethics issue as it pertains to those communities. Specifically, the paper will look at ethical
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