Bribery in Healthcare

Bribery has become one of the major issues of medical ethics that doesn't necessarily concern directly dealing with the patient. Doctors are often offered bribes by pharmaceutical companies, in an attempt to have those doctors prescribe the pharmaceutical companies' drugs more often. I feel that by doing this would put the doctor in conflict with important principles of medical ethics, such as the importance of putting the patients' interests first. The patient being prescribe unnecessary medication can become detrimental to their well being. The patient could become addicted with the quantity increase of medication. Also the numerous about of unnecessary pills could cause liver problems and other health related risk that stems from a lot of pill consumption. This type of bribe conflicts with the integrity of the medical profession. I believed that doctors are taught to work their hardest and do what they believe in their hearts to be the best decisions. Prescribing medications for money takes away that highly valued principle, and the trust of the patient.

Should medical errors be withheld from the patient?

Medical errors will forever continue as long as healthcare providers are still human. Once a medical error has they occured, what should be the attitude of the medical profession? Should it be to withhold such information from patients? since ‘what they don't know can't hurt them’ or should such information be honestly disclosed to patients and the appropriate measures taken to redress and prevent any such errors in future? I feel as though it depends on the seriousness of the medical error. If the medical error has caused the patient any harm or a financial deficit due to a longer hospital stay, then i say tell them. I as the patient should know the reasoning behind any misfortune that may have occured while being treated.It isn't fair to keep me in the dark about anything that is negatively affecting me.On the other hand if a medical error has occured and nothing has been negatively affected by it then i say "don't tell me".Only thing that will occur by informing me of the error is angry and worry that could result in a number of consequences for the hospital.

Elderly health care causing unhealthy dilemmas

Recent breakthroughs in technology throughout the U.S health care industry have pioneered some of the boldest and most promising cancer treatments, surgical procedures, and genetically engineered drugs that have increased Americans life expectancy. Unfortunately the same technologies that are helping Americans live longer are also increasing demands on the health care system from a growing population of senior citizens. Questions are now being raised about when and from whom treatments should be withheld? Competition for the scarce medical resources of the health care system grows beyond the system's capacity to provide care for everyone. I believe the best solution to this ethical issue would be rationing out the health care delivered to the elderly. the health of the young can be ensured by relatively cheap preventive measures such as exercise programs and health education, the medical conditions of the elderly are often complicated, requiring the use of expensive technologies and treatments often, these treatments are ineffective in providing any tangible benefit for either patient or society. I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but prolonging the lives of the elderly who no longer serve any use for society seems to be very wasteful. As a health care administer I can’t allow myself to become influenced by doing what sounds right all the time, unfortunately the health care industry has become a business and like every other business sometimes you have to do what’s better for the business. In this case I feel like rationing treatment for the elderly is for the betterment of the U.S. Basically the costs to prolong the life of one elderly person might be more productively directed toward the treatment of a far greater number of younger persons whose health can be ensured by less costly measures.