Ethics And Globalization Of Healthcare And Electronic Med

Ethics And Globalization Of Health Care And Electronic Medical Recor

Examine the primary reasons why medical tourism is becoming popular among Americans, and determine whether or not the health care industry should encourage this consumer behavior. Give at least two (2) specific examples associated with such patient medical consumerism behaviors. Compare and contrast electronic medical records with personal health records. Justify the ethical responsibility of keeping patients’ medical and personal health records confidential. Provide a rationale for your response.

Paper For Above instruction

In recent years, medical tourism has gained significant popularity among Americans due to various factors that are driven by economic, quality, and accessibility concerns within the domestic healthcare system. This phenomenon involves individuals traveling outside their home country to receive medical treatments, often for procedures that are either costly, inaccessible, or have long waiting periods domestically (Connell, 2014). The primary reasons fueling this trend include the high cost of healthcare in the United States, limitations in insurance coverage, and the desire to access advanced or elective procedures at more affordable prices abroad.

One compelling example of patient medical consumerism related to medical tourism is the surge in elective cosmetic surgeries, such as dental work or liposuction, performed in countries like Mexico or Thailand due to lower costs and shorter waiting times (Lunt et al., 2011). Another example involves patients traveling to countries like India for complex surgeries such as cardiac procedures, where the combined cost savings and the availability of state-of-the-art facilities attract many Americans (Carrera et al., 2014). These behaviors exemplify patients actively seeking value-driven healthcare services, often making informed decisions based on cost, quality, and accessibility factors.

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and Personal Health Records (PHRs) are both critical components of modern healthcare data management but differ significantly in scope, control, and purpose. EMRs are digital versions of patients' charts maintained by healthcare providers within a clinical setting, primarily used for diagnosing, treatment, and managing patient care (Häyrinen et al., 2008). They are maintained by healthcare institutions and are accessible primarily to authorized medical personnel. Conversely, PHRs are health records managed by the patients themselves, containing personal health information, including data from multiple providers, lifestyle information, and health preferences (Weitzman et al., 2010). Patients often use PHRs to track their health status, set health goals, and communicate with providers.

The ethical responsibility of maintaining patient confidentiality is fundamental in healthcare. Healthcare providers and institutions are ethically bound by principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice, which underscore the importance of safeguarding sensitive health information (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). Confidentiality fosters trust between patients and providers and encourages open communication, which is essential for effective diagnosis and treatment. Breaches in confidentiality can lead to stigma, discrimination, psychological harm, and loss of privacy, violating patients’ rights and undermining trust in the healthcare system (McGraw, 2013).

In conclusion, medical tourism is driven by economic, accessibility, and quality considerations, and while it offers benefits such as cost savings and access to advanced treatment, it also raises ethical and safety concerns that must be carefully managed by the healthcare industry. The comparison between EMRs and PHRs highlights the importance of data management and patient autonomy, emphasizing the ethical obligation to protect sensitive health information at all levels. Upholding confidentiality is not only a legal mandate but a moral imperative that sustains trust and integrity in healthcare practice.

References

• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Carrera, P. M., Bridges, J., & Valerio, L. (2014). Globalization and health: The ethics of medical tourism. Bioethics, 28(8), 387-393.
• Connell, J. (2014). Medical tourism: Is it good for global health? Future Healthcare Journal, 1(1), 66-68.
• Häyrinen, K., Saranto, K., & Nykänen, P. (2008). Definition, structure, content, use and impacts of electronic health records: A review of the research literature. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 77(5), 291-304.
• Lunt, N., Smith, R., Exworthy, M., Green, S. T., Horsfalls, W., & Stolee, P. (2011). Medical Tourism: Treatments, Markets and Health System Implications. York: University of York.
• McGraw, D. (2013). Protecting privacy in the age of health information exchange. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 41(2), 425-432.
• Weitzman, E. R., Kaci, L., & Mandl, K. D. (2010). Sharing medical data electronically: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 17(4), 337-340.