Ethical Issues in Health Care

Ethics provide standards of conduct based on principals of right and wrong.

Historical Development of the Ethics Golden Rule – most useful and basic ethical theory: Golden Rule – most useful and basic ethical theory: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Beginning Medical Ethics-Hippocratic Oath Beginning Medical Ethics-Hippocratic Oath

Codes of Ethics Serve as general guideline for determining right or wrong behaviors for the health care worker Serve as general guideline for determining right or wrong behaviors for the health care worker Can guide the health care worker who is placed in a position of being involved in a procedure or situation that they feel violates their ethical principals. Can guide the health care worker who is placed in a position of being involved in a procedure or situation that they feel violates their ethical principals.

Sample Code of Ethics The primary goal of the health care worker is to promote an optimal level of wellness, preserve life, and provide for a peaceful death when necessary. The primary goal of the health care worker is to promote an optimal level of wellness, preserve life, and provide for a peaceful death when necessary. The health care worker respects the religious beliefs and cultural values of all clients. The health care worker respects the religious beliefs and cultural values of all clients. The health care worker provides adequate and continuous care for all clients regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or nature of the illness or injury. The health care worker provides adequate and continuous care for all clients regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or nature of the illness or injury.

Sample CODE OF ETHICS The health care worker knows the limits of practice for which he or she is competent and stays within those limits. The health care worker knows the limits of practice for which he or she is competent and stays within those limits. The health care worker practices jurisprudent behavior at all times by avoiding unethical or illegal practices. The health care worker practices jurisprudent behavior at all times by avoiding unethical or illegal practices.

Sample CODE OF ETHICS The health care worker respects the dignity and rights of each client by maintaining confidentiality and a professional attitude regarding all information relating the the client. The health care worker respects the dignity and rights of each client by maintaining confidentiality and a professional attitude regarding all information relating the the client. The health care worker maintains a high standard of ethical and legal behavior in his or her private as well as professional life. The health care worker maintains a high standard of ethical and legal behavior in his or her private as well as professional life.

Ethical Issue Questions As technology and science advances, questions are raised in our society regarding not “Can we?” but “Should we?” do certain things relating to the human creature. As technology and science advances, questions are raised in our society regarding not “Can we?” but “Should we?” do certain things relating to the human creature. The following slides outline several topics that are considered ethical dilemmas in today’s health care environment – What do you think??? The following slides outline several topics that are considered ethical dilemmas in today’s health care environment – What do you think???

Genetics Genetic Testing of Fetus – Genetic Testing of Fetus – Can diagnose genetic malformations during pregnancy through amniocentesis But what should be done with the fetus if a disorder is found that cannot be cured? But what should be done with the fetus if a disorder is found that cannot be cured? For example some countries in Europe have low percentage of Down’s Syndrome births because most are diagnosed during pregnancy and aborted. For example some countries in Europe have low percentage of Down’s Syndrome births because most are diagnosed during pregnancy and aborted.

Genetics Genetic Engineering – manipulating DNA within the cells to ensure that certain traits will be eliminated and others kept in an offspring. Genetic Engineering – manipulating DNA within the cells to ensure that certain traits will be eliminated and others kept in an offspring. Should we use it to correct genetic disorders? Should we use it to correct genetic disorders? What about selecting the sex of the baby or its hair color, IQ?? What about selecting the sex of the baby or its hair color, IQ??

Cloning Creation of organisms asexually, usually from a single cell of the parent organism. Creation of organisms asexually, usually from a single cell of the parent organism. Should it be allowed in humans? Should it be allowed in humans? What about cloning spare organs? What about cloning spare organs? Dolly – the first cloned mammal

Xenotransplantation Transplanting animal tissues & organs into humans. Transplanting animal tissues & organs into humans. Should an animal’s life be sacrificed to save a humans? Should an animal’s life be sacrificed to save a humans? What about injecting human genetic material into pigs to make skin & heart valve grafts from these animals less likely to be rejected by humans? What about injecting human genetic material into pigs to make skin & heart valve grafts from these animals less likely to be rejected by humans?

Stem Cell Research Stem cells are early embryonic cells that have potential to grow into any type of Stem cells are early embryonic cells that have potential to grow into any type of body cells. body cells. Scientists hope to use them to grow new organs, body tissue and/or cure diseases/injuries like brain and spinal cord injury or Alzheimer’s. Scientists hope to use them to grow new organs, body tissue and/or cure diseases/injuries like brain and spinal cord injury or Alzheimer’s. How should they be harvested?? Is it acceptable to use aborted fetuses for this research or unwanted embryos produced through in vitro fertilization? How should they be harvested?? Is it acceptable to use aborted fetuses for this research or unwanted embryos produced through in vitro fertilization? Or should only the limited amount of adult stem cells found only in our bone marrow and liver be used? Or should only the limited amount of adult stem cells found only in our bone marrow and liver be used?

Reproductive Questions In Vitro Fertilization – test tube fertilization outside the woman’s body then fertilized egg implanted into woman’s uterus. In Vitro Fertilization – test tube fertilization outside the woman’s body then fertilized egg implanted into woman’s uterus. Who should get custody of fertilized eggs if there is a divorce?? Who should get custody of fertilized eggs if there is a divorce?? What should be done with non-implanted eggs?? What should be done with non-implanted eggs??

Reproductive Questions Abortion – intentional termination of pregnancy. Abortion – intentional termination of pregnancy. Should it be legal? Under what circumstances and at what gestational ages? Should it be legal? Under what circumstances and at what gestational ages? What about the father’s rights? What about the father’s rights? Should the parents of a teenager be notified before she is given an abortion? Should the parents of a teenager be notified before she is given an abortion?

Organ Donation How should organ donation recipients be determined or prioritized- including should you get a transplant even if you can’t afford one? Should an alcoholic who destroys his liver by drinking be allowed a transplant? Should a 65 year old get a kidney before a 35 year old if they are sicker??? Should it be legal to “sell” an organ? Should you get an organ transplant if you are in prison?

Medical Marijuana Is the benefit of marijuana for cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and other patient treatment high enough to legalize this drug for prescription? Would its benefits outweigh the negatives of smoking it? Is the benefit of marijuana for cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and other patient treatment high enough to legalize this drug for prescription? Would its benefits outweigh the negatives of smoking it? It is used medically in 14 of 50 states. One compound is available in script form as Marinol. It is used medically in 14 of 50 states. One compound is available in script form as Marinol. POLL

Euthanasia – “Mercy Killing” Medical professional uses painless medical means to end the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition - Such as giving a lethal injection of drugs. Illegal in USA, legal in Belgium, Netherlands

Physician Aid-in-Dying or Physician Assisted Suicide Physician assists patient to administer their own lethal dose of medication to end their life. Physician assists patient to administer their own lethal dose of medication to end their life. Legal in Oregon, Washington state Legal in Oregon, Washington state Dr. Jack Kevorkian – with his suicide device POLL

And the list goes on….. Should a patient know if their health care provider has HIV? Should a patient know if their health care provider has HIV? Does every American citizen have the right to health care even if they cannot pay? Does every American citizen have the right to health care even if they cannot pay?