MBA 6277 Health Care And Ethics Topic Selection

MBA 6277 Health Care and Ethics Topic Selection

The utilitarian theory is an ethical framework developed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. It emphasizes the consequences of actions to determine their morality, focusing on maximizing happiness and minimizing unhappiness for the greatest number of people. Bentham's principles revolve around the ideas that pain and pleasure are fundamental to human life, with pain representing evil and pleasure representing good. He believed that pain and pleasure could be measured, guiding ethical decision-making based on their outcomes. Mill, however, prioritized the quality of happiness over the mere amount of pleasure, emphasizing that actions should promote the greatest happiness for the most people, considering the overall well-being rather than just quantity (Sen, 2014).

In the context of healthcare management, the utilitarian perspective can be instrumental in guiding decision-making and ethical judgments. Healthcare managers play critical roles in strategic planning, staff management, collaboration, and resource allocation. Applying utilitarian principles enables managers to evaluate actions based on their potential to produce the greatest good for patients, staff, shareholders, and society at large. For example, when managing healthcare costs, a manager might aim to optimize profit margins while ensuring that services remain affordable, thereby satisfying shareholders and patients simultaneously. Such decisions aim to promote overall happiness and reduce suffering within the healthcare system.

Staff management further exemplifies utilitarian application. Managers should focus on the consequences of employees' actions, fostering a work environment that maximizes staff satisfaction, patient care quality, and organizational efficiency. Decisions regarding staffing levels, training, and policies should consider their impact on all stakeholders, emphasizing actions that contribute to the collective well-being. This approach discourages favoritism or self-interest, urging managers to consider how their choices influence the happiness and suffering of others (Baker, 2012).

Healthcare providers often confront moral dilemmas arising from conflicting values and interests. Personal interests, professional obligations, legal compliance, and societal expectations may sometimes clash, challenging the application of utilitarian principles. For instance, providers must balance respecting patient confidentiality with the broader societal benefit of transparency during infectious disease outbreaks. Upholding laws and regulations designed to protect patients aligns with utilitarian goals by promoting societal health and safety, thereby increasing overall happiness.

The values upheld by healthcare institutions, such as customer service quality, accurate diagnosis, equitable treatment, social justice, and confidentiality, resonate with utilitarian principles. Achieving high-quality healthcare services ensures patient satisfaction and reduces suffering. Saving lives and effectively managing chronic or acute conditions directly contribute to increased happiness for patients and their families. Moreover, principles of justice and equality—treating all individuals fairly regardless of background—are central to utilitarian ethics, as equitable treatment enhances societal well-being (Duignan, 2011).

Furthermore, confidentiality, a core ethical value in healthcare, functions to protect patients from potential harm or embarrassment, which in turn minimizes suffering. Ensuring patient privacy and respecting their rights are consistent with utilitarianism, as these actions foster trust, cooperation, and overall societal happiness. Addressing value dilemmas through a utilitarian lens involves weighing the benefits and harms of various ethical choices, striving to maximize positive outcomes for the greatest number.

In conclusion, utilitarianism offers a practical framework for healthcare managers and providers to navigate complex ethical issues. By emphasizing the importance of outcomes and overall well-being, this theory promotes decisions that aim to maximize happiness and reduce pain across all stakeholders in the healthcare system. Employing utilitarian principles helps align healthcare practices with societal needs, ensuring ethically sound and socially beneficial outcomes.

References

• Baker, J. R. (2012). Ethical issues in managed health care organizations. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.
• Duignan, B. (2011). Thinkers and theories in ethics. New York: Britannica Educational Pub. in association with Rosen Education Services.
• Sen, A. K. (2014). Utilitarianism and beyond. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Childress, J. F., & Siegler, M. (2015). An introduction to bioethics. Oxford University Press.
• Miller, F. G., & Brody, H. (2012). A reader's guide to using ethics theories in health care. Virtual Mentor, 14(8), 624–629.
• Gillon, R. (2015). Ethics in health care: A guide to Decision Making. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Danis, M., & Solomon, M. (2017). Ethical and social issues in medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences.
• Persad, G., & Emanuel, E. J. (2016). Principles for allocation of scarce medical interventions. Journal of Medical Ethics, 42(9), 6–11.