Health care ethics Essay -- essays research papers

The basic rights of human beings, such as c one timern for personal dignity, be always of great importance. During illness, however, these rights are extremely vital and must be protected. Therefore, healthcare providers should make an effort to assure that these rights are preserved for their uncomplainings. Likewise, health care providers have the right to conceive reasonable and responsible behavior on the part of our patients, their relatives, and friends. This is where the patients bill of rights comes into play. The Patients Bill of Rights was first adopted by the American hospital Association (AHA) in 1973 and revised in October 1992. Patient rights were developed with the expectation that it would contribute to more effective patient care. It aids the patients and their families to understand their rights and responsibilities (Edge et al, 1998). In theory, once one understood the right, one should be able to reason out the correlative obligations. Below are two obligatio ns to each of the items found in the patients bill of rights.Respect and Dignity.1. Respect the dignity of the patient by being considerate and caring2. Do not discriminate based on sex, hunt or religion, etc.Identity 1. Hospital staff should wear name badges to identify themselves. 2. Staff members should introduce themselves to you and describe their roles before care is given.Participation in Treatment Decisions1. Provide the patients with their conductment option2. Allow the patient to participate in the treatment options availableAdvanced Directive1. Advice patients of their rights to make informed medical choices, ask if the patient has an advance directive.2. Honor the wishes of the patient as stated in his/her directive as permitted by law and hospital policy.Privacy1. Do not disclose information abo... ...and regulatory standards. Their broad range of patient care, education, public health, social service, and business functions is essential to the health and well being of their communities. These roles and functions look at that health care organizations conduct themselves in an ethical manner that emphasizes a basic community service orientation and justifies the public trust. The health care governing bodys mission and values should be embodied in all its programs, services, and activities (Ethical Conduct for Health Care Institutions, 1992).So although the patient can sue for malpractice, it will be based on laws related to the ethical principles, but not the Ethical Principles themselves. For example, if a patient feels that they were treated differently because of race, they would file a discrimination suit, which is legitimately sanctioned under other legal legislature. It seems quite complicated, but it is important to recognize the difference between ethics and the law. Ethical complaints (i.e., the nurse did not treat me with respect) goes before a hospital disciplinary panel, but not before the legal courts.