A search for easy answers in complex circumstances

During the past decade or two, both science and technology have advanced, and the cost of patient care and treatment have accelerated at unprecendented rates. At the same time, the number and complexity of ethical and biomedical ethical issues have increased and taken on new importance. As healthcare leaders, we must be aware of these issues, their significance, and our role and responsibility in dealing with them. This article highlights the ethical and biomedical ethical issues that currently face our industry, identifying some of the emerging issues which are now taking on new importance, and focuses on a few of the health-related social justice issues confronting our society and our health industry. Also presented here are some actions that we, as healthcare leaders, might take to reduce social injustice and improve the health prospect for those we serve.