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Rules and Resistance: A Commentary on "An Archeology of Corruption in Medicine"
1Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building A27Camperdown NSW 2006, Sydney, Australia. Kathryn.mackay@sydney.edu.au.
Abstract:
In the paper "An archeology of corruption in medicine" (2018), Miles Little, Wendy Lipworth, and Ian Kerridge ("the authors" or "Little et al.") present an account of corruption and describe its prevalent forms in medicine. In presenting an individual-focused account of corruption found within "social entities" (organizations, institutions, and systems), Little et al. argue that these entities are corruptible by nature and that certain individuals are prone to take advantage of the corruptibility of social entities to pursue their own ends. The authors state that this is not preventable, so the way to remedy corruption is via management and, where necessary, punishment. This commentary will briefly lay out the key features and functions of corruption as presented by Little et al., before providing a critical discussion that will focus on whether corruptibility is a necessary feature of social entities. I will propose that it is not a necessary feature, though it may frequently arise where individualistic values are unchecked. Corruption can be prevented within social entities by enhancing structures that direct toward virtue and which promote and reward cooperation instead of competition.
Insights
Medical social entities are not inherently corruptible; unchecked individualism often fuels corruption. Prevention lies in promoting virtuous structures and rewarding cooperation over competition.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Sociology of Medicine
- Health Management
Background:
- Little et al. (2018) argue that medical social entities are inherently corruptible.
- They propose that corruption stems from individuals exploiting these entities for personal gain.
- The authors suggest corruption is unpreventable, requiring management and punishment for remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically analyze the concept of corruptibility in medical social entities.
- To challenge the assertion that corruptibility is an inherent and unpreventable feature.
- To propose alternative strategies for corruption prevention in healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Critical commentary and philosophical analysis of existing literature.
- Deconstruction of the "archeology of corruption" framework presented by Little et al.
- Development of a counter-argument based on ethical principles and organizational theory.
Main Results:
- Corruptibility is not an inherent or necessary feature of medical social entities.
- Corruption frequently arises from unchecked individualistic values and competitive systems.
- Existing frameworks may overemphasize individual pathology over systemic factors.
Conclusions:
- Corruption in medicine is preventable through systemic interventions.
- Enhancing structures that promote virtue and cooperation can mitigate corrupt practices.
- Shifting focus from punishment to prevention and ethical cultivation is crucial for healthier healthcare systems.
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