Ethics in Health Care Practice

Ethical standards are an integral part of healthcare delivery as they facilitate the process of decision-making for patient care and safety. However, many medical professionals face monumental challenges in attempts to deliver appropriate health care. As a result, their actions jeopardize the quality of patient outcome and significantly impact on medical competency. Lyckholm et al. highlight several concerns surrounding ethical standard of practice that affect competency of medical care in health care facilities (Lyckholm et al., 2001). This article postulates that deficiencies in the provision of hospital specialty care severely hamper medical competency. Many hospitals and particularly those in the rural areas tend to have few healthcare providers while others completely lack specialists in vital areas such as radiography. Lyckholm et al. mention that a growing literature evidence inadequate of medical care providers and specialist in vast healthcare facilities. In view of this, the goal to provide high-quality medical care to patients is not achieved. More interestingly, the personnel found in these hospitals are heavily overwhelmed with work culminating into poor patient safety and outcomes. Consequently, this pressing problem hampers competency of medical care.

Also, the document notes that lack of direct supervision on the health practices is another issue that explains competency challenges in medical care. Weinstein and Nesbitt (2007) assert that direct supervision done by a specialist is paramount to recognizing desired objectives of a hospital. For example, physicians play a vital role in overseeing the medical processes as well as evaluation of the problems relating to patients. Through this, the specialist can identify if a patient needs to be attended to urgently. For instance, medical problems such as spinal cord compression and neutropenic fever require the supervision of a specialist. Lyckholm et al. go further to elucidate that the competency of the medical care is affected by the lack of clinician-patient relationship (Lyckholm et al., 2001). According to them, constant communication with the patient is a significant facet in enhancing the relationship that aid in the recovery process. Many medical practitioners “are not able to provide direct continuity care to patients due to time and schedule constraints” (Lyckholm et al., 2001). Healthcare providers should be able to cultivate good relations with their patients through having frequent communication.

Additionally, confidentiality and privacy are issues that influence competency in medical care. The information of the patient needs to be handled with great concern, and any health worker should understand that this is a vital ethical measure. Problems of confidentiality and privacy of patient data are highly manifested in rural areas where healthcare workers personally and socially know their patients. The health providers are more likely to share information of their patients, and this creates profound challenges in attempts to maintain the respect of the patient in the society (Chalmers, 2003). Revealing patient information violates the rights of the patient. Weinstein and Nesbitt allude that the non-compliance with this medical rule takes the blame for the long distance drive by some patients in search of medical facilities in areas where they are not known (Weinstein & Nesbitt, 2007). Patients are unwilling to be treated at the nearest medical facilities as they fear that their privacy might be exposed. Therefore, safeguarding the confidentiality of patients is paramount to practitioners as it affects medical competency.

Relevance of Standards of Practice

The standards of practice have great relevance to me as a medical practitioner. Here, I understand that establishment of good ethical standards facilitates adequate treatment of patients to realize desired patient outcomes. I have to practice the need of keeping the information of my patients confidential and private to the patients build trust in me. Also, this will enable me to make appropriate decisions and create a conducive environment for the patients to share their vital concerns. Moreover, this ethical standard will enable me to enhance personal autonomy as well as have respect and dignity for my patients (Chalmers, 2003). This is because confidentiality is an important pillar in medical practice as it cultivates moral respect in a practitioner. Moreover, the building of clinician-patient relationship will be significant in offering satisfied patient care to my patients. This ethical standard is relevant in promoting better health care through the creation of accountability and understanding the areas that require critical medical attention. Besides, the issue of clinical supervision is relevant to me as a practitioner as it improves on patient safety. Overseeing medical operation will enable me to identify any shortcomings that require specialist attention for adequate attendance. Cultivating of patient-clinical relationship is relevant to me as it builds a therapeutic bond between the patient and me. As a result, there will be a delivery of high-quality care which is a cornerstone in the establishment of a good rapport with the patient. Besides, there will be proper coordination of health care practices with the patient through the constant interaction. Thus, the ethical standards of practice will be relevant in ensuring that I carry out my duties in the right way to and promote the provision of patients’ rights.

References

Chalmers, J. (2003). Patient privacy and confidentiality. BMJ, 326(7392), 725-726. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.326.7392.725

Lyckholm, L., Hackney, M., & Smith, T. (2001). Ethics of rural health care. Critical Reviews In Oncology/Hematology, 40(2), 131-138. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1040-8428(01)00139-1

Weinstein, M., & Nesbitt, J. (2007). Ethics in Health Care: Implications for Education and Practice. Home Health Care Management & Practice, 19(2), 112-117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1084822306294453