Ethics in Medical Practice, Coursework Example

Introduction

Throughout the medical profession, there are differing opinions in regards to the management of patients and the general direction of practice objectives. It is important to distinguish between these differences and to understand clinical perspectives in the support of positive outcomes for patients. At the same time, it is necessary to address the issues that many medical professionals have identified as instrumental in their decision-making processes in order to accomplish the desired objectives in a reasonable manner. However, some concepts may breach the line between appropriate ethical practices and must be addressed accordingly. There are considerable problems in many areas of medical practice that may ultimately lead to patient harm or poor outcomes. It is essential to consider these circumstances and to demonstrate the impact of positive ethical decision-making in supporting patient health and wellbeing. The following discussion will address these concerns in greater detail and will emphasize the importance of preserving ethical practices in medicine for the greater good of all patients and for the practice as a whole.

Analysis

An article by Clark (2009) considers the importance of medical ethics in the promotion of patient care and wellbeing through appropriate decision-making that contributes to the greater good of all patients. However, many disparities continue to exist that may lead to poor outcomes for patients in their efforts to improve their health (Clark, 2009). As a result, there is a substantial lack of trust and understanding of medical practice objectives in many circles, all of which contributes to negative outcomes and poor relationships between patients and their healthcare providers (Clark, 2009). It is imperative to develop new strategies and approaches to healthcare practice that will encourage patients to develop a greater sense of trust and support for the knowledge and expertise that their clinicians provide to them (Clark, 2009). These objectives will demonstrate the importance of aligning medical decision-making with the best interests of patients across all population groups (Clark, 2009).

From a medical ethics perspective, there are many conflicts that erupt across different practices that may interfere with the needs of patients in different ways (Hansson and Chadwick, 2011). Therefore, it is important to identify why these discrepancies exist in the first place and the challenges that must be addressed in order to accomplish the necessary objectives to improve patient care and wellbeing (Hansson and Chadwick, 2011). For example, some areas of the informed consent process may be too restrictive and may breach trust between patients and their providers, and these circumstances have a largely negative impact on patient care (Hansson and Chadwick, 2011). Therefore, it is important to identify areas where specific ideologies might play a role in reducing these differences and in supporting long-term objectives that will support positive patient outcomes (Hansson and Chadwick, 2011).

Across all areas of medical practice, it is important to consider the different issues that have emerged in recent years that require sound and appropriate ethical practices. In the area of global health, for example, these efforts are essential to the development and discovery of new techniques and objectives that will be effective in supporting patient needs around the world (Crump and Sugarman, 2010). Under these conditions, it is important to identify areas where training and education might be enhanced so that all healthcare providers throughout the world possess the proper tools and techniques to facilitate ethically appropriate medical care at all times (Crump and Sugarman, 2010). This is a challenging process, yet it demonstrates the importance of supporting positive ethical approaches to healthcare and medicine in positive ways to promote the prevention of disease and the improvement of health (Crump and Sugarman, 2010).

The preservation of ethical practices in medicine should not be undermined by personal gain under any circumstances. Furthermore, since there is an increased risk of breaches in medical ethics, particularly in critical care settings, it is more important than ever to develop new strategies and approaches that will have a positive impact on patient care and wellbeing in different ways (Kapp, 2009). There is a legal basis for many arguments against a breach of medical ethics which lead to the creation of significant problems and challenges over time (Kapp, 2009). Therefore, it is important to identify the resources and opportunities that are available to support medical practice objectives and to reduce legal implications as best as possible to not only preserve medical ethics, but also the ability of patients to fully recover and achieve greater health in the process (Kapp, 2009).

Conclusion

Medical ethics is a challenging and potentially controversial issue that continues to prevail throughout practice settings. From a clinical perspective, it is important to recognize these challenges and to take the steps that are necessary to support new directives that promote ethically appropriate and responsible behaviors on behalf of patients at all times. These efforts must demonstrate that medical professionals have the best interests of their patients as their primary focus rather than their own personal objectives. In addition, they must develop strategic approaches that will be effective in the support of optimal health and wellbeing for all patients throughout the world. Breaches in medical ethics are unfortunately common practice, but they might be reduced through positive and appropriate decision-making for all patients, regardless of their circumstances. The contributions made by medical professionals are instrumental in facilitating positive outcomes for all patients and in making the best possible decisions that will best suit their medical needs.

References

Clark, P.A. (2009). Prejudice and the medical profession: a five-year update. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 37(1), 118-133.

Crump, J.A., and Sugarman, J. (2010). Ethics and best practice guidelines for training experiences in global health. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 83(6), 1178-1182.

Hansson, M.G., and Chadwick, R. (2011). Is medical ethics doing its job? Journal of Internal Medicine, 269(4), 366-369.

Kapp, M.B. (2009). The interface of law and medical ethics in medical intensive care. Chest, 36, 904-909.