Medical Ethics : Dilemmas Doctors Face Today

Medical Ethics : Dilemmas Doctors Face Today

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Doctors often face a variety of ethical issues in their promise to provide healthcare to the best of their ability. Ethical issues in healthcare include a wide range of topics from the use of Narcan to physician-assisted suicide. Check out these often asked questions surrounding medical ethics.

Medical Ethics Issues

1. Narcan

The opioid epidemic is becoming an increasingly large problem in the United States. With that said, the introduction of Narcan came as a huge relief to many. Narcan is a life-saving injection used to revive heroin users after an overdose. Narcan is helpful in dire situations, but it poses a major ethical dilemma in healthcare. Proponents argue that Narcan helps addicts recover and gives them a second chance. Some drug users see the dangers of opioid use and decide to take action to end their addiction after coming so close to death. Skeptics argue that the use of Narcan actually enables drug addicts. Police in troubled cities are required to carry Narcan, and they often revive the same drug users multiple times. Does Narcan help addicts transform their lives or does it enable them to continue a life of drugs?heroin

2. Physician-Assisted Suicide

Physician-assisted suicide is a major ethical issue in healthcare. Physicians providing their patients with the means necessary to end their own lives is considered physician-assisted suicide. It is legal in Oregon, Vermont, Washington, California, Colorado and the District of Columbia. In Montana, physician-assisted suicide is court mandated. Each of these states has its own laws describing specific legal details. Those in favor of physician-assisted suicide argue that it is an ethical decision. They believe that it ends patient suffering and puts the fate of the patient in his or her own hands. Those against physician-assisted suicide argue that its use could be abused in the future to end the lives of mentally incompetent patients or others who are not terminally ill. Will physician-assisted suicide be used to help suffering patients or hurt future patients?

3. Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana is one of the most widely discussed ethical issues in healthcare today. Physicians face a huge ethical concern when it comes to prescribing medical marijuana. Many physicians fear the legal and ethical consequences they may face if their patients misuse marijuana. However, states continue to legalize medical marijuana and patients are surprised that physicians are hesitant to prescribe the drug. Will medical marijuana be used to help patients with terminal conditions or could the lack of research lead to long-term health issues?

4. Access to Healthcare

Healthcare access is a huge topic when it comes to medical ethics. Everyone is affected by laws mandating access to healthcare. Healthcare access may seem like a simple debate on the surface. However, it leads to countless other ethical dilemmas in healthcare such as, do we provide citizens with healthcare or not? For example, would illegal immigrants also receive access? What types of healthcare would be provided – cancer treatment, contraceptives, mental health treatment, allergy medication, etc.? After these decisions are made, more questions arise. How will these services be paid for? Will taxes be implemented? Will medical professionals be paid differently? Are there enough facilities available to treat all citizens for every medical concern?

Solving Ethical Issues in Healthcare

The above-mentioned issues are difficult to dissect. Individuals must determine their own ethical standards and ethical dilemmas in healthcare bring about moral and legal concerns. They are highly controversial because there are strong arguments on both sides. This makes it hard to determine a correct answer. People should more often discuss ethical concerns in order to find the best solutions. Yet, when having these controversial conversations about medical ethics, it’s important to find a middle ground so that a compromise can be reached.

Are you looking to share your thoughts about medical ethics within the healthcare world? Check out the physician jobs we have available now so that you can help solve these ethical issues in healthcare and more.

Author: Locum Jobs Online

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1 Comment

  1. Going to graduate school was a positive decision for me. I enjoyed the coursework, the presentations, the fellow students, and the professors. And since my company reimbursed 100 of the tuition, the only cost that I had to pay on my own was for books and supplies. Otherwise, I received a free master’s degree. All that I had to invest was my time.

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