Transcendental health care ethics: beyond the medical model

Recent health care ethics literature is heavily weighted in favor [of] examining problems associated with technological and other advances. This article challenges such a narrow focus of inquiry, maintaining that a broader conceptualization of the problems in health care is warranted. In part, this problem of focus can be attributed to the labeling of the field of study as "medical ethics" which reinforces a medical model approach to the exploration of problems. This particular perspective has proven inadequate for the purpose of describing the moral problems associated with health care. The health care professions, including medicine, have responsibilities toward individuals but also have wider responsibilities to society in general. These responsibilities are reflected in their codes of ethics. Thus, the purpose of moral philosophy with regard to health care ethics issues should not be constrained to "medical ethics" but should include broader appraisals of health care and the health care context.