Introduction
Apart from providing the most precise test results, laboratory workers need to take care of other crucial issues. In Al Rahba hospital, much attention is paid to eliminating issues regarding ethics in the workplace. In particular, such endeavors are implemented in laboratories. Data gathered and processed by lab workers may contain highly personal facts that the customers would not like to share with anyone. Therefore, Al Rahba laboratory employees are specifically instructed about the significance of duty of care and ethical considerations at their workplace.
Duty of Care in the Laboratory Settings
Standards of good care should be in the first place for any medical worker in general and laboratory employee in particular. People’s health and sometimes even lives depend on how qualified the services they receive at healthcare establishments are. There are four dimensions of duty of care that are interdependent and interconnected: the employer’s duty of care to patients, the employer’s duty of care to the staff, employees’ duty of care to each other and themselves, and staff’s duty of care to patients (1). In the laboratories of Al Rahba hospital, attention is paid to all of these kinds of duties of care. Managers and lab workers cooperate to provide the best results and perform their responsibilities with a conscientious approach and proper accountability.
A laboratory worker has to fulfill a number of duties to be considered a competent and reliable employee:
- it is necessary to be engaged in a continuous education process and pay attention to the newest methods and technologies;
- lab workers have to provide their services at the highest level expected by customers and stated by hospital regulations;
- all employees should know safety regulations and be able to detect any inconsistencies, as well as react promptly and avert the possible dangers for themselves and customers;
- lab technicians and assistants should keep their records accurately and consistently; all data should be well-organized and easily accessed by authorized individuals;
- all laboratory work should be performed by the people assigned; a duty may only be delegated if another person’s competency to perform it does not arouse any doubts (1).
Duty of care also incorporates cost reduction whenever possible and eliminating inefficiencies in the employees’ work (2). Laboratory workers should strive to provide their customers with the most accurate test results, decrease conflict or dangerous situations, and arrange the most positive working environment to ensure that their performance is the most efficient and has the best quality.
Ethical Considerations in the Laboratory
As well as any other medical establishment, the laboratory presupposes conforming to a set of ethical norms and regulations. The greatest ethical consideration at any laboratory is confidentiality (3). Lab workers must not share any personal details of their customers and ensure that no personal data is revealed within or outside the laboratory.
Another important aspect of ethical behavior is conforming to the rules of acceptable moral behavior (4). At Al Rahba, all lab employees understand that it is necessary to follow the common courtesy rules as well as inner hospital regulations. All conversations in laboratories should only concern professional matters. Employees should be neat and polite, and should not provoke any misunderstandings either in professional or personal matters.
One more crucial aspect of ethical conduct is reporting incidents that occur in laboratories. All workers should realize that it is unacceptable to hide the facts of any inconsistencies in the laboratory’s performance. All unusual happenings should be reported as soon as possible in order to eliminate the possible danger for employees and patients (5). Laboratory employees have to realize their responsibilities to the full extent. Thus, all documentation should be kept in order, and all affairs should be resolved within the working environment.
Organizational, Local, and National Policies Governing Ethics in the Laboratory
Ethical behavior in Al Rahba laboratories is regulated by a variety of local and national policies, as well as organizational guidelines. The UAE health system has a variety of norms set for the facilities that strive to provide customers with the best services and reach the most efficient health outcomes. The work of medical facilities is regulated by the following laws administered by the UAE Ministry of Health: Federal Law No. 5 of 1984, Federal Law No. 7 of 1975, Federal Law No. 2 of 1996, and Federal Law No. 4 of 1983 (6). These laws establish the rules of licensing of medical workers, including their ethical responsibilities. At all levels of government, hospitals’ ethical norms are regulated, and a code of ethics is strongly suggested.
Al Rahba’s inner regulations incorporate such measures as regular meetings and discussion of duties of care, including any inconsistencies. Also, the ethical conduct of each employee is evaluated by managers, and any adverse issues are reported to the administration. The management of complicated cases is performed to provide the best quality of services in Al Rahba laboratories.
Conclusion
Suggesting high-quality medical services would be impossible without a proper arrangement of ethical conduct of the employees. Al Rahba hospital is doing everything possible to provide the fulfillment of the duty of care in its laboratories and other departments. Every person concerned with healthcare settings should realize the great responsibility of each action and decision they make. To arrange adherence to duty of care and norms of ethics, it is necessary to perform a regular assessment of healthcare employees’ knowledge and skills and increase their professional level constantly. When medical workers know and conform to the rules of ethics, customers’ health benefits become fantastic, and the organisation’s reputation increases.
References
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- Fryer AA, Smellie WS. Managing demand for laboratory tests: a laboratory toolkit. J Clin Pathol. 2012; 66(1): 62-72.
- Harmening D. Modern blood banking and transfusion practices. 6th ed. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company; 2012.
- Phalen RF. Core ethics for health professionals: principles, issues, and compliance. Cham: Springer; 2017.
- Osaro E, Charles AT. Laboratory total quality management for practitioners and students of medical laboratory science. Bloomington: AuthorHouse; 2012.
- Healthcare regulation in the UAE. New York: Latham and Watkins LLP; 2011. Web.