2. Factors Causing Ethical Issues
Confidentiality- Protection of Private information of patient and medical records.
Transmission of disease- Protect yourself while treating patients with
communicable diseases.
Aggressive marketing practices- Main goal of the hospital should be patient care,
not marketing schemes. Do not recommend unnecessary services to a patient just
for the sake of profit.
Provided information- Accurate and honest information should be provided to
the patient.
3. Terminally ill patients- Terminally ill patients may have specific wishes for the
manner in which they want their lives to end. Dealing with such issues should be
considered carefully.
Sexual Harassment- Rules should be very strict about sexual harassment of any
kind at the healthcare facility.
Sexual Ethics ( Branch of ethics committee)should ne involved.
4. Ethical Dilemmas
Are situation in which a provider of the medical care is forced to make a decision
that violates one of the four principles of medical ethics in order to adhere to
another of the principles.
When there is conflict between moral choices, in which to obey one would result
in transgressing another.
Legal vs Personal values
Professional vs Personal Religious
5. Assisted Suicide
Although medical euthanasia(mercy killing) has long been an ethical issue.
The activities of Dr. Jack Kevorkian( frequently referred to as Dr. Death for his
activities assisting terminally and chronically ill patients to end their life.
Several states have considered the legality of assisted suicide. But some have
rejected it.
In 1997, the U.S Supreme court ruled that assisted suicide is not a constitutionally
granted right.
6. Human Drug Experimentation
Institutional Review Board is responsible for overseeing all clinical research
conducted within a given institution.
The IRB has two primary responsibilities: To evaluate risk versus benefits to study
participants.
If the risks outweigh benefits, the IRB would likely to reject the proposal .
The board acts as somewhat of a subject advocate to ensure that the patient
subject’s rights and welfare are protected.
7. To evaluate and approve informed consent forms used in conjunction with thee
research.
IRBs vary in their size and representation.
The members may include- The physician, nurses, other allied health professionals
( including pharmacist) institutional administrators, attorneys, medical ethicist and
community members.
