Ethical Issues in Healthcare

611 Words3 Pages
Ethical Issues in Healthcare Healthcare ethics involves making well researched and considerate decisions about medical treatments, while taking into consideration a patient's beliefs and wishes regarding all aspects of their health. The healthcare industry, above any other, has a high regard for the issues surrounding the welfare of their clientele: their patients. I will be writing about HIPPA laws, confidentiality, the efficiency and cost of information systems, and safeguarding patient data. I chose this topic “Ethical Issues in Healthcare” because I currently work in the health care field and I’m interested in learning more about the topic and about how it affects patient rights as well as the hospital. Computer-based information and communication technologies continue to transform the delivery of healthcare. While information technology has the potential to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care, it also raises important ethical and social issues. The three questions I will address are: * How does confidentiality affect protection of healthcare information? Confidentiality is one of the most important ethical issues in health care. Maintaining confidentiality is becoming more difficult. While information technology can improve the quality of care by enabling the instant retrieval and access of information through various means, including mobile devices, and the more rapid exchange of medical information by a greater number of people who can contribute to the care and treatment of a patient, it also can increase the risk of unauthorized use, access and disclosure of confidential patient information. Within healthcare organizations, personal information contained in medical records now is reviewed not only by physicians and nurses but also by professionals in many clinical and administrative support areas. * What are the costs and

More about Ethical Issues in Healthcare

Open Document