Hcs 335 - Administrative Ethics - Impact of Ethical Issue on the Population
Autor: tontaldav • October 14, 2013 • Research Paper • 1,777 Words (8 Pages) • 1,580 Views
Administrative Ethics
Laura Stark
HCS/335
September 9, 2013
Maria E. Soohey
Administrative Ethics
Biomedical ethical issues are seen frequently in the news and are in constant scrutiny. The demand for social responsibility is high and available resources are limited. Healthcare leaders are faced with numerous administrative issues regarding patient privacy, research, confidentiality, and terminal illness. Much debate has surrounded medical spending on the terminally ill, such as the cost and allocation of resources toward end-of-life care. Choosing between prolonged life and quality of life are two seemingly difficult decisions to make. Nonetheless, it is difficult to base one’s opinion until cancer has taken over one’s life. A close look at administrative issues surrounding end-of-life care will demonstrate the impact on a population, ethical and legal implications, potential solutions to the problem, and managerial responsibilities.
Impact of Ethical Issue on the Population
The Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) is a part of the United States territory since its establishment of commonwealth in political union and is home to approximately 44,000 people (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012). Because of the increase in chronic diseases and lack of available resources, several residents are referred to go off the island to seek health care in Guam and Hawaii (Doty, 2012). However, the medical referral program has a crucial problem with financing treatment at referral facilities. Some patients are being refused treatment because of the large amount already owed (Doty, 2012). Although a budget of $2.5 million is allotted for health care expenses for the medical referral program, it only covers half of the costs incurred in 2011 (Doty, 2012). Therefore, officials viewed rationing of medical services necessary to keep costs at bay. Among the rationing of medical services is the allocation of resources to terminally ill patients. According to Doty (2012), a medical provider states, “As a community, we must address the reality of spending precious resources on end-stage patients who will die within a short amount of time with or without medical treatment” (para. 18). The method of triage rationing raises ethical concerns because patients are treated as if they were soldiers out on a battlefield where only the ones with
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