Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care
What happens when a patient’s wishes contradict the beliefs of a health care worker’s?
To prepare for this Discussion, consider this week’s Learning Resources regarding conscientious objection and patient rights.
Post a comprehensive response to the following:
Do health care workers have the right to conscientiously object to providing care if it varies from their own personal moral and ethical belief system? Please explain by providing an example.
How would you apply the four ethical principles to your example?
How might your answer differ based on your chosen profession in health care?
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
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Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care Resources
Judson, K., & Harrison, C. (2016). Law and ethics for the health professions. (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Chapter 3, “Working in Health Care”
This chapter looks at some of the practical ethical and legal issues encountered in the health care work environment.
Medical Law, Ethics, and Bioethics for the Health Professions
Chapter 7, “Public Duties”
Health care professionals have ethical and legal responsibilities to their patients and their institutions. They also have public duties that require them to report certain situations to medical or legal authorities. This chapter examines these public duties in practice.
Chapter 12, “A Cultural Perspective for Health Professionals”
This chapter considers the growing role that cultural competency plays in health care.
Cantor, J. (2009). Conscientious Objection Gone Awry — Restoring Selfless Professionalism in Medicine. The New England Journal of Medicine. 360(15), p. 1484.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Cantor, J. & Baum, K. (2004) The Limits of Conscientious Objection – May Pharmacists Refuse to Fill Prescriptions for Emergency Contraception? The New England Journal of Medicine. 351(19), 2008-2012.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Required Media
Laureate Education (Producer). (2010). Ethical and legal issues in healthcare: Ethics in practice: Inside an ethics committee [Video file].