Ethical Issues in Healthcare

There are numerous ethical challenges that face medical professionals and patients each day. These include (but are not limited to): medical treatments, practices, hospital management, and more. Ethical issues in healthcare can require an immediate response, such as making decisions for patients when they are not able to do so, or can involve a prolonged, carefully considered decision, such as the debate over the right to abortion or assisted suicide. The actions taken in ethical issues in healthcare clearly distinguish between what is right and wrong, and often, many of the actions taken today can have lasting effects on healthcare, setting the precedent in the future.

Using your textbook or the Internet, choose an ethical issue in healthcare that interests you. Explain what the ethical issue is, providing a detailed description (perhaps an example). Reflect on the topic, identifying possible options or consequences. Examine the ethical issue from your future perspective as a healthcare professional, identifying the role ethics will play in your decision-making.