Role of Healthcare Managers When Facing Ethical Decisions
Leaders in healthcare face challenging ethical issues in their day-to-day activities. These issues may involve patient privacy, technology use, and inequalities among racial groups, among others. It is upon these managers to create an environment that has high standards and a trustworthy reputation. When faced with ethical issues, a healthcare manager should have set guidelines to address the issues.
Firstly, a healthcare provider should act in the best interest of the patient. While working with the principle of beneficence, a healthcare worker’s actions should always benefit the patient (Bruning et al., 2013). They should provide care, kindness, and compassion to the patients. Another role of healthcare leaders is nonmaleficence, which means not harming the patients. For any action taken towards the patient, the benefits should always outweigh the risks.
Another ethical decision-making guideline for leaders is to respect individuals and their autonomy. When an ethical issue arises around a patient’s autonomy, the patient always makes the final decision (Deshpande, 2009). Lastly, justice mandates that leaders make judgments in a fair and unbiased manner. Decisions that have a detrimental impact on the company reduce the organization’s ability to carry out its purpose.
While handling an ethical conflict, it is vital to understand the uniqueness of the dilemma and review it with its uniqueness. Referring to what the code of ethics says about such an issue should be the second step (Sandman et al., 2006). You may also want to speak up to your colleagues and hear their take on the issue. Speaking up offers insight as some of them may have experienced a similar issue. The next step should be to seek perspective from the affected family for insight and then make an informed decision.
In summary, addressing ethical issues and dilemmas in a healthcare environment is a challenge facing many leaders. The interests of patients, medical staff, and stakeholders might influence the ability to make an ethical decision. Following set ethical principles should assist all managers in healthcare to make morally correct decisions; an ethical culture results in a trustworthy establishment that people can trust.
References
Bruning, P., & Baghurst, T. (2013). Improving ethical decision-making in health care leadership. Bus Eco J, 4, e101.
Deshpande, S. P. (2009). A study of ethical decision-making by physicians and nurses in hospitals. Journal of Business Ethics, 90(3), 387-397.
Sandman, L., & Nordmark, A. (2006). Ethical conflicts in prehospital emergency care. Nursing Ethics, 13(6), 592-607.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
We’ll write everything from scratch
Question 
Role of Healthcare Managers When Facing Ethical Decisions
What is the role of a healthcare manager when facing an ethical decision?
How would you handle an ethical conflict?