Law and Medical Ethics
There is a great overlap between law, ethics, and risk management within a legal profession. Ethical considerations within the medical profession must be backed by law to make them enforceable. At the same time, risk management is an important concept that helps medical professionals choose actions that minimize potential risks (Vincler, 2008; Johnson County Community College, 2011). From this, it can also be said that the law as a regulatory concept provides guidelines that define and direct how procedures in medical practices are to be conducted in a manner that is adherent to practitioners’ and patients’ rights and privileges as provided under the constitution. The law also helps to standardize operations globally.
Research ethics regarding vulnerable population
Patients on end-of-life treatment form a uniquely vulnerable group whose life and the decision is a responsibility of the law and the people who love them. One key informed consent that may be violated relates to withdrawing or withholding of care to this population.
The law, ethical consideration, including religious and cultural issues, must be considered in making this choice. IRB ensures patients are treated according to various statutes that provided for by law. If the patients are incapacitated from making critical decisions regarding their medical treatment, it is required that any medical operation that may affect them adversely is only conducted with the express written consent of an immediate family member (McGowan, 2011; Weiser & Cooper, 2011).
Organizational ethics in the healthcare workplace
I consider organizational ethics quite an important factor that would adversely affect how I would conduct business at my workplace. For instance, I would quit employment in a private facility where money was placed before patients’ health. Suppose a patient comes who desires urgent treatment, yet I am forbidden from attending them till they have paid. I will have no option but to walk away.
In this regard, I consider good organizational ethics at the workplace quite instrumental in ensuring that there are proper service provision that is guided by professionalism, good service delivery, respect of the law, and respect for people’s rights and freedoms (Purtilo & Doherty, 2010; Johnson County Community College, 2011).
Caring response and ethics: addressing the medical needs of homeless people
Taking care of street persons requires a passion for involving health professionals in initiating mobile clinics and the necessary equipment and facilities such as warm clothing and preventive vaccines. Personally, my skills will be used to offer medical, ethical, and spiritual advice. Our profession will benefit by creating a healthy and content society, ensuring that there are better societies with people whose medical issues are better addressed and provided (Wasunna et al., 2003; Purtilo & Doherty, 2010). This group of people who are ignored in society as destitute and vagrants also have rights and privileges, which include the right to access quality healthcare (Derbyshire, 2010).
References
Derbyshire, D. (2010). Babies know the difference between good and evil at six months, study reveals. Mail Online. Web.
Johnson County Community College. (2011). The Placenta, The Nursing Student and the Teachable Moment. Web.
McGowan, C.M. (2011). Legal Issues. Legal Aspects of End-of-Life Care. Critical Care Nurse, 31(5), 64-69.
Purtilo, R., & Doherty, R. (2010). Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.
Vincler, L.A. (2008). Law and medical ethics. Web.
Wasunna, A., Fitzgerald, D. W., Pape, J.W., Watsunna, A., & Abrahams, J. (2003). Other issues. Developing World Bioethics, 3(1), 3-9.
Weiser, T.G., & Cooper, Z. (2011). Withdrawal of life sustaining therapy after traumatic injury. Trauma, 13(3), 189-198.