Ethical Issues In Healthcare

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Ethical Issues in Healthcare
Healthcare ethics is a sense of right and wrong, the rights he/she have, what our beliefs are, and the duties he/she owe to others in the healthcare field. Facing ethical issues within the healthcare field is something healthcare professionals cannot eliminate. Legal and ethical decisions are made daily by healthcare professionals. It is important that when these issues arise he/she shows professionalism, and maintain a code of integrity. In order to do so healthcare professionals must learn ethical principles.
Universal Health Care
Many Americans are living without health coverage. In 2014-2015 there were 33 million people without health insurance coverage (Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2014).
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This is usually between the age of 10-19. Adolescence is a combination of physical, psychological and social changes which are culturally based (Ethical issues). What happens when an adolescent wants to make medical decisions without parental consent? It has become an issue within the healthcare field. The issue is consent and the involvement of parents. How do healthcare professionals handle situations when it comes to patient rights?
Autonomy is the quality or state of being self-governing; especially the right of self-government self-directing freedom and especially moral independence; a self-governing state (merriam-webster). Autonomy consist of 3 main elements. The ability to decide, the power to implement such decisions, and the respect for the individual (McWay 2014). Healthcare professionals must give clear and adequate information regarding patients’ health status. If that patient is considered to be competent to make health decisions he or she has that right to give doctor permission to proceed with medical care. Patient consent is then considered to be voluntary. Autonomy does have certain restrictions and because of these restrictions it can be considered an adolescent and consent is an ethical healthcare
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Every healthcare professional or anyone working in the healthcare filed is mandated by law to report any kind of abuse. All states have laws protecting mandatory reporters from civil or criminal liability for reporting child abuse (AMA Journal of Ethics®). Many states also have provision in their reporting laws that include potential for sanctions ranging from adverse licensure actions to misdemeanor criminal penalties when a mandatory reporter knowingly fails to report (AMA Journal of Ethics®). Most importantly as healthcare professionals it is important to protect anyone from any kind of abuse. Be aware that these people has feelings and let them know that there

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