My Answer to HWcase2 Q1

 Source of case:

www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/08/02/1191446579/doctors-have-their-own-diagnosis-moral-distress-from-an-inhumane-health-system

Important Facts:

• Moral injury occurs when individuals, particularly healthcare workers, are forced to act against their moral values due to systemic pressures.
• The modern healthcare system often prioritizes financial incentives and efficiency over patient care, leading to ethical conflicts for medical professionals.
• Physicians and nurses frequently face situations where they must deny or limit patient care due to insurance constraints, hospital policies, or resource shortages.
• Many doctors experience emotional distress, burnout, and a sense of helplessness when they cannot provide the best possible care to their patients.
• The issue of moral injury is distinct from burnout—it stems from ethical dilemmas rather than physical or emotional exhaustion alone.
• Some medical professionals leave the industry entirely due to the stress of working in a system that forces them to compromise patient welfare.
• The problem extends beyond doctors and nurses to include other healthcare workers, such as social workers and therapists, who also face ethical conflicts in providing adequate care.
• Potential solutions include systemic reforms, better support for healthcare workers, and changes to insurance and hospital policies that align with ethical patient care.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you think moral injury in healthcare affects patient outcomes, and what changes could be made to prevent it?
2. Should healthcare professionals be held accountable for ethical compromises they make under systemic pressure, or should the system itself bear responsibility?
3. How can hospitals and insurance companies balance financial sustainability with ethical patient care?
4. (Computer Security Question) How could patient data privacy concerns contribute to moral distress in healthcare, and what ethical considerations should be taken when managing sensitive patient information?

Ethics Questions:

• What does virtue ethics say about this case?
• What does utilitarianism say about this case?
• What does deontology say about this case?