Medical Ethics – 5. HEALTH PERSONEL OBLIGATIONS TO THE SOCIETY 033240
Read the complete lesson in an organized slide-by-slide format. This topic contains 17 learning sections from the source presentation.
LESSON CONTENTS — 17 SECTIONS
HEALTH PERSONEL OBLIGATIONS TO THE SOCIETY
Profession personal obligation to the society
Medical profession involves not just the relationship between a clinician and a patient, and relationship with colleagues and other health professionals but it also involves a relationship with society.
Clinicians are also called upon to play a major role in the allocation of society’s scarce healthcare resources, and sometimes they have a duty to prevent patients from accessing services to which they are not entitled.
Challenge of Dual Loyalty
When clinicians have responsibility and are accountable both to their patients and to a third party and when these responsibilities and accountabilities are incompatible, they find themselves in a situation of dual loyalty.
Dual loyalty is when clinicians have responsibility and accountability both to their patients and third party.
Challenge of Dual Loyalty
Third parties that demands clinicians’ loyalty include governments, employers, insurers, military officials, police, prisons officials and family members including the law.
It is generally accepted that medical practitioners may in exceptional situations have to place the interests of others above those of the patient
Challenge of Dual Loyalty
The ethical challenge is how and when to protect the patient and face the pressure from third parties.
At one end of spectrum are requirements for mandatory reporting of patients who suffer from designated diseases such as cholera and HIV although patients should be informed that such reporting will take place.
Challenge of Resource Allocation
Justice entails a more social approach to the distribution of resources, one that considers the needs for other patients.
According to this approach, clinicians are responsible not just for their own patient but, to a certain extent, for others as well.
Challenge of Resource Allocation
In circumstances where a choice must be made between potential patients for a particular treatment which is in limited supply, all such patients are entitled to a fair selection procedure for that treatment.
That choice must be based on medical criteria and made without discrimination.
One way clinicians can exercise their responsibility for the allocation of resources is by avoiding wasteful and inefficient practices, even when patients request them to do so.
Challenge of Resource Allocation
The overuse of antibiotics is just one example of a practice that is both wasteful and harmful.
Clinicians have a moral responsibility to advocate for expansion of these resources where they are insufficient to meet patient’s needs.
This usually requires that clinicians work together, in their professional association, to convince decision makers in government and elsewhere of the existence of these needs and how best to meet them.
Clinicians Ethical Responsibilities in Public Health Issues
Public health measures such as vaccination campaigns and emergency responses to outbreaks of contagious diseases are important factors in the health of individuals but social factors such as housing, nutrition and employment are equally significant.
Clinicians can contribute, even if indirectly, to long term solutions of health problems by participating in public health and health education activities, monitoring and reporting environmental hazards.
Clinicians should attempt to find ways to minimize any harm that individual patient may suffer as a result of meeting public health requirements.
When reporting is required, the patient’s confidentiality should be protected to the greatest extent possible while fulfilling the legal requirement.
Clinicians Ethical Responsibilities in Public Health Issues
Clinicians should attempt to find ways to minimize any harm that individual patient may suffer as a result of meeting public health requirements.
When reporting is required, the patient’s confidentiality should be protected to the greatest extent possible while fulfilling the legal requirement.
Health personnel/Workers’ Responsibility for Own Actions
Definition
Taking responsible for own action is being answerable or accountable, as for something within one’s power, control, or management.
People want to feel responsible for successes when they occur, but it’s not easy taking responsibility for failures.
Acknowledging failure is the initial stage of developing sense of responsibility for own action and being aware of ones capability for growth and development.
Importance of Workers’ Taking Responsibility for Own Action
Taking responsibility is a very important principle.
One is solely responsible for all the actions have taken and blaming others or circumstances for the things that are not right are an attitude of self-destruction.
Once accepting and taking responsibility for our actions, then we are in a better position to move forward and to learn from our mistakes.
Taking responsibility of own action results in building self-esteem to higher levels.
Importance of Workers’ Taking Responsibility for Own Action
If you own up your actions, your life becomes better and smoother.
In medical services one is trying to ‘do well’ and prevent harm in all cost, but mistakes can occur, it is very ethical to report the error so that immediate action can be taken to safe life.
In situation where you did a mistake in the course of your care, it is very ethical to admit
the mistake and take the consequences, which shows a level of maturity and self-actualisation
How Health personnel develop ability to take Responsibility for Own Actions
Identification and accepting that, you do have a problem in this area and learning ways of taking responsibility for your actions, in this way you are taking your life to a higher level of existence.
You will find yourself feeling more vibrant and happier.
Let go of feelings of victimization and learn to see yourself as a victor and not a victim.
How Health personnel develop ability to take Responsibility for Own Actions
Develop your spiritual life by adding a spiritual dimension to your life which can help to bring more self-awareness.
Take your degree of success to a higher level.
Build your self-confidence as when you are confident in your abilities, you won’t become defensive when you make a mistake and therefore, owning your contribution to a situation and taking responsibility becomes natural.
How Health personnel develop ability to take Responsibility for Own Actions
Accept responsibility for your responses to the people, actions, and events in your life.
Accept that you are completely responsible for your own choices
Be open to change, new ideas or concepts about life and the way life is.
Take responsibility for own actions, including errors, recognition and acceptance of limitations and need for supervision and self assessment.
QUESTIONS
Define the following terms
Dual Loyalty
Health personnel’s Responsibility for Own Actions
Mention Importance’s of Workers Taking Responsibility for Own Action
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