biomedical issues presentation slides pt

biomedical issues

1. Medical law and ethics dr shehreen dpt (king Edward medical university)

2. What is bioethics? The term “bioethics” was first introduced in 1971 to reference “the combination of biology and bioscience with humanistic knowledge,” the Center for Practical Bioethics explains. However, its application has become much broader today, including clinical decision-making, controversial new research, the implications of emerging technologies, global concerns, and public policy. In fact, bioethics has played a central role in influencing policy changes and legislation in recent years. Its relevance for medical professionals is difficult to overstate, as the modern health care system continues to change at a rapid pace .

3. Bioethics has applications ranging from birth to the end of life, and it  directly affects both patients and care providers . “Bioethics has an impact on every level of human community from the local nursing home to the huge international conferences on issues like the Human Genome …

4. Common Bioethical Issues The following are some of the most relevant bioethical issues faced by the health care industry . End-of-Life Care Elderly individuals and their families face  a variety of difficult decisions  as they near the end of life. Whether legal, practical, spiritual, or medical in nature, health care professionals overseeing these decisions “must first recognize pain and suffering,” according to an article in  The Ochsner Journal . Advancements in medical treatment may prolong life, but quality of life can decrease once an individual becomes too ill. Then it is time to consider the level of pain management offered, whether to deliver care at home or in a hospital setting, and what kind of caregiver is needed.

5. Medical Resource Allocation When medical resources are limited or scarce, it is difficult to meet all health care needs due to a limited supply. This is why, in some cases, there is  some degree of rationing  in the health care system. One good example of this is intensive care units (ICUs). Patients might need to be transferred out of the ICU when they could still derive a small amount of benefit from ongoing monitoring, according to “The Ethics and Reality of Rationing in Medicine.” Decisions like this might be made to accommodate the needs of more seriously ill patients who need access to limited space in the unit. Resource allocation could also apply to something as simple as physician time. Leaders and other stakeholders must determine which patients should be seen first and how much time should be dedicated.

6. Eugenics With modern advances in technology, it is possible to  improve genetic quality  through selective reproduction, gene selection, and gene manipulation. But just because more choice exists, does that mean we should take advantage of it? That’s the bioethical issue behind eugenics. Options like embryo selection can allow parents to choose the sex of their child, for example. “Such possibilities raise important ethical questions — questions about which of these choices, if any, are morally wrong — along with closely related questions about the extent to which law and regulation should restrict these areas of medicine,” according to Eugenics and the Ethics of Selective Reproduction.

7. Euthanasia One of the most controversial topics in bioethics is euthanasia. According to the BBC: “Euthanasia is the termination of a very sick person’s life in order to relieve them of their suffering. A person who undergoes euthanasia usually has an incurable condition.” In some cases, it may be done at the patient’s request, but when a patient is incapacitated,  the decision  can be made by others, such as family members or medical professionals. In the medical community, there are  two categories of euthanasia . Active euthanasia occurs when a medical professional allows the patient to die. Passive euthanasia occurs when “medical professionals either don’t do something necessary to keep the patient alive, or when they stop doing something that is keeping the patient alive,” according to the BBC. It is important to note that in both cases this is done at the patient or family member’s request. The American Medical Association Code of Ethics makes a  distinction  between “withdrawing life-sustaining treatment” and euthanasia, which indicates just how complex this bioethical issue is.

8. Organ Donation The importance of organ transplantation in modern medicine can’t be overstated. It helps patients by prolonging their lives after the failure of vital organs. For organ transplantation to work, of course, it requires  donation from deceased or living individuals . According to “Ethical Issues in Organ Transplantation,” “The increasing incidence of vital organ failure and the inadequate supply of organs … has created a wide gap between organ supply and organ demand.” This means that patients often have long wait times before they receive an organ, and this can result in death. The bioethical issues surrounding this issue are complex, including whether organ donation should continue to be voluntary and whether minors should be allowed to donate organs.

9. Bioethical Issues and Health Care Management For leaders in the health care field, it is important to create an ethical environment in which to deal with the daily challenges that arise. According to the National Center for Ethics in Health Care (NCEHC), influencing employees to  “do the right thing”  can be achieved when managers prioritize ethics, communicate clear expectations, and practice ethical decision-making. The NCEHC also notes that ethical health care organizations create a culture where individuals: Appreciate the importance of ethics See ethics as part of quality Recognize and discuss ethical concerns Understand what is expected of them Seek consultation on ethics cases when needed Feel empowered to behave ethically Work to resolve ethics issues on a systems level View organizational decisions as ethical When managers are able to foster a culture of ethics, employee behavior is more likely to follow suit. This is one of the many important responsibilities of professionals in health care management roles.