Riley, M.
http://medicalstudentblog.co.uk
Ethics are a major component of the US healthcare system. As technology advances, laws are developed to govern the developments; however ethics are used to shape and influence the practical application of the processes before the laws are created. Even in fields that are dictated by legal guidelines, ethics are important contributors to the behavior of the professionals within the market. “The development of law in a particular field narrows the discretion of providers in making ethical judgments” (AIU Online, 2009). However, ethical behavior calls healthcare providers to conduct themselves in a manner that is beyond the demands of what is legal; it also asks them to behave in a manner that is ethical according to the guidelines of their profession.
Within the United States, ethics, especially within the healthcare field, are of major concern. These issues are regulated and assessed in many ways, including through legal mandates and laws, professional societies, and the clinical consultation of ethicists. Often, organizational mission statements help to guide the application of ethical concepts within the scope and practice of their services. A randomized sample survey of hospitals throughout the United States showed that over 80% of hospitals have ethical consultation services, while an additional 14% are in the process of creating ethical consultations services (Fox, Myers & Pearlman, 2007).
There are many applications of ethical issues in the management and execution of healthcare that may be overlooked on the assumption that they are ethically neutral issues: staffing, budgeting, consultations, and others (Williams & Torrens, 2008). However, despite the postulation that these issues do not have an ethical basis for consideration, they have a significant impact on the application and utilization of healthcare services, therefore having an ethical basis for consideration. It is important that these issues be regulated and correctly assessed and addressed in order to properly meet patient needs while maintaining appropriate levels of business function. The failure to equate these issues with other matters of ethical importance would be detrimental to the successful management of a healthcare organization.
References
AIU Online. (2009). HCM 310: Unit 5: Assessing and regulating healthcare [Multimedia presentation]. Retrieved from AIU Online Virtual Campus. Healthcare Industry: HCM310- 0904A-02 website.
Fox, E., Myers, S. & Pearlman, R. A. (2007). Ethics Consultation in United States Hospitals: A National Survey. The American Journal of Bioethics, 7 (2), 13-25. Retrieved 08 November 2009, from http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/15265160601109085.
Williams, S. & Torrens, P. (2008). Introduction to health services (7th ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
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