WGU C426 Healthcare Values and Ethics 100% Correct

WGU C426 Healthcare Values and Ethics 100% Correct What are the principles of Healthcare Ethics? beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice Beneficence Doing good or causing good to be done; kindly action Nonmaleficence duty to do no harm autonomy independence justice fairness; rightfulness ethics committee committee made up of individuals who are involved in a patient's care, including health care practitioners, family members, clergy, and others, with the purpose of reviewing ethical issues in difficult cases What are other factors influence Healthcare Ethics? Contexual (culture, social, economic), Marginalized population-always know to be successful Ethics Committee Functions Policy & procedures; education/promote rights, consultation & conflict resolution ethical dilemma when 4 basic principles come in conflict with one another Common Law This source of law is the body of principles that has evolved and expanded from judicial decisions that arise during the trial of court cases. Many decisions in healthcare ethics are guided by precedents established in court. Statutory Law This source of law emerges from legislative bodies. A great deal of landmark healthcare legislation has been created in recent years. Administrative Law This source of law originates from the extensive body of public law issued by administration agencies to direct enacted legislation. Numerous governmental agencies direct the implementation of healthcare legislation. Avoiding negligence. Administrators can prevent negligence on an organizational level by ensuring that ethical policies are institutionalized and enforced. Criminal Law Although breaches of standards and codes are often addressed through civil law in a healthcare setting, criminal law is an important factor as well. Criminal negligence is reckless disregard for the safety of another that can be punishable by law. Criminal law involves a much higher standard of evidence as it concerns the welfare of all citizens. Laws can be seen as a codification of a society's ethics and consequently they may vary from region to region. Lawful conduct does not necessarily result in ethical conduct. malfeasance misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official Misfeasance improper performance of a lawful act Nonfeasance The failure to act when one should Contract in Healthcare A contract is composed of an offer, a consideration, and an acceptance. Healthcare organizations often enter into exclusive contracts with physicians and medical groups, and these exclusive contracts sometimes create conflicts of interest. Privacy Act of 1974 a law that gives citizens access to the government's files on them HIPPA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act 1986 forbids Medicare-participating hospitals from "dumping" patients out of emergency departments. Healthcare Quality Improvement Act of 1986 Was enacted in part to provide those persons giving information to professional review bodies and those assisting in review activities limited immunity from damages that may arise as a result of adverse decisions that affect a physician's medical staff privileges. Ethics in Patient Referral Act of 1989 Prohibits physicians who have ownership interest or compensation arrangements with clinical lab from referring Medicare patients to that lab. Requires Medicare providers to report names & provider numbers of all physicians or their immediate relatives with ownership interests in a provider entity. Patient Self-Determination Act Enacted to ensure that patients are informed of their rights to execute advance directives and accept or refuse medical care. Sarbanes-Oxley Act A law passed by Congress that requires the CEO and CFO to certify that their firm's financial statements are accurate. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act he laws focus on reform of the private health insurance market, providing better coverage for people with preexisting conditions, improving prescription drug coverage in Medicare, and extending the life of the Medicare trust fund by at least 12 years. Patient's Bill of Rights accessibility Healthcare managers have a responsibility to ensure this bill of rights is easily accessible to patients, that employees are aware of this document, and that the entire care team actively supports patient rights. Additionally, the organization must regularly update their organization's bill of rights in response to changing legal and ethical standards. right to refuse treatment the legal right of patients to refuse certain forms of treatment advance directives An advance directive is crucial for determining what is desired by a patient, especially when loved ones are faced with the decision of terminating ongoing care. Trial Procedures Healthcare administrators are sometimes asked to serve as fact witnesses during a trial. It is also likely that a healthcare administrator will be sued as a defendant in a case. In either case, administrators may be questioned about policies, procedures, staff training, the facts of a particular event, or medical record-keeping policies. Administrators should work with their organization's legal team to familiarize themselves with court procedures, what to expect, and the kinds of questions they are likely to be asked. Having a basic understanding of trial procedures will aid in this process. Right to refuse treatment Patients have a right to refuse participation in a treatment. informed consent A patient has the right to know the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment. To ensure patient autonomy, a manager needs to know whether the patient is capable of giving consent, who is in the best position to give consent, and how consent can be determined. Implied consent Type of consent in which a patient who is unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal assumption that he or she would want treatment. Institutional Review Board A board established to help maintain balance between the interests of scientific research and patient safety is known as an Institutional Review Board (IRB). These boards approve research experiments. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) survey process includes a review of the rights of any nursing facility residents participating in experimental research. FDA & study subject rights regulates clinical trials for investigational drugs. Consent forms should describe both the risks and benefits involved in the research activity. informed consent in research Fully disclose to the patient the inherent risks, benefits, and treatment alternatives to the proposed research protocol(s) • Determine the competency of the patient to consent • Obtain written consent from the patient • Educate the staff as to the potential side effects, implementation of, and ongoing monitoring of protocols • Require financial disclosure issues associated with the protocols language barriers Language barriers to accessing healthcare and poor health literacy are inherent within the realm of any community served. Organizations can offer community education where medical experts make medical information accessible to lay audiences. Healthcare managers can also assist by having key patient education materials available that are written at an appropriate grade level and language for their organization's typical audience. Active euthanasia is also called mercy killing Passive Euthanasia/ Indirect acts which are meant to be palliative (reduce suffering) but unintentionally causes death or causes a quicker death; a decision to forego further interventions which are considered mechanically pointless; sometimes technology can delay natural death instead of prolonging life; not considered a sin by the Catholic Church involuntary euthanasia The act of ending a terminal patient's life by medical means without his or her permission Voluntary euthanasia euthanasia performed on a person with his or her permission End of Life Dilemmas These dilemmas involve the definition of life, the authority and capacity to consent, direct conflicts between beneficence/nonmaleficence, and autonomy. American College of Healthcare Executives Code of Ethics guideline standards for CEO. Refusal to Participate in Care -Right to refuse to participate in certain aspects of patient care and treatment -Conflict with cultural, ethical, and/or religious beliefs Patients Bill of Rights adaptability Managers must ensure that the Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities address patient concerns specific to their organization. This can be done by performing comprehensive reviews of patient feedback and complaints. Withdrawal of treatment Patients have the right to withdraw from treatment at any time. In some cases, doing the most good to a patient (sustaining his/her life) is not in the patient's best interest. Capacity to consent In addition to the conflict between autonomy and beneficence, healthcare managers must also consider the reality that not all patients are in a position to express their wishes. Some patients may be unconscious or have some cognitive impairment. Autonomy does not always come from the patient; sometimes autonomy comes from someone legally acting on behalf of the patient. beginning of life dilemmas These dilemmas involve the definition of life, the value of life, and a patient's reproductive rights. Direct conflicts between beneficence/nonmaleficence and autonomy may be manifested in these types of ethical dilemmas. scarcity dilemmas These dilemmas involve conflicts with justice, as scarce resources must be distributed in the most equitable way possible. The organization must determine the criteria, aligned with national requirements, that must be applied when determining who will receive scarce resources, such as organ transplants. personal ethical considerations Even with a firm understanding of principles and a standardized decision-making framework, making ethical decisions remains very complex, particularly when there are conflicts. Healthcare leaders often find themselves involved in shared decision-making that directly contradicts their individual beliefs and sense of morality. These are the kinds of dilemmas healthcare managers should expect to have to confront directly in their operational roles. Corporate Ethics Healthcare leaders must ensure that their organization's governing body is operating under ethical guidelines and is in compliance with applicable rules and regulations. Employee rights In addition to other basic employee rights, healthcare employees have the right to refuse to participate in care as well as the right to privacy. Employee responsibilities In order to ensure ethical, patient-centered care, healthcare employees must be held to professional performance in compliance with organization defined standards and practices. organizational values Values that support patient-centered care include integrity, compassion, honesty, and respect. Managers can ensure that their organization practices values-based ethics by creating a culture that supports these principles. Culture of Transparency Managers must ensure that suspected or actual unethical behavior is immediately reported by employees. Reporting is often facilitated by creating anonymous communication channels such as phone hotlines and by establishing a culture that celebrates the improvements that come about from employee reporting. Code of Ethics It is a manager's responsibility to ensure that an organization's code of ethics is given high priority and that it addresses the unique needs of the populations that the organization serves. Managers regularly monitor for violations of the code of ethics by performing routine comprehensive reviews of patient complaints and by performing daily rounds to ensure that patient concerns are being addressed. Accreditation Accreditation can function as a seal of approval that demonstrates a dedication to patient-centered care. Many accreditation agencies also include ethical considerations in their standards. Utilitarianism idea that the goal of society should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people Deontology the study of the nature of duty and obligation. Actions right or wrong veracity filled with truth and accuracy fidelity faithfulness; loyalty Ethical Relativism actions must be judged by what individuals subjectively feel is right or wrong for themselves Situational Ethics moral principles that vary with circumstances