How Should We Respond to Health Care Generating Environmental Harm?
Amy Collins1, Shanda Demorest2
1Medical director for physician engagement and education at Health Care Without Harm.
AMA Journal of Ethics
|October 10, 2022
Summary
Healthcare operations harm the environment and public health, contradicting medical ethics. This article explores the health sector's role in climate change and argues for ethical responsibility to mitigate these impacts.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Medical Ethics
- Climate Science
Background:
- Healthcare organizations have healing missions and ethical obligations to avoid harm.
- Paradoxically, healthcare operations contribute to pollution and environmental degradation.
- This environmental impact exacerbates public health issues globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how health sector actions contribute to climate warming.
- To analyze the iatrogenic harm to global public health caused by these actions.
- To assert the ethical responsibilities of clinicians and organizations to address these environmental impacts.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of health sector's environmental footprint.
- Analysis of the link between healthcare operations and climate change.
- Ethical framework application to healthcare's environmental responsibilities.
Main Results:
- Health sector activities significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Climate change induced by healthcare exacerbates existing public health burdens.
- The principle of "do no harm" extends to environmental stewardship.
Conclusions:
- Clinicians and healthcare organizations must acknowledge and address their contribution to climate change.
- Ethical imperatives demand proactive engagement in mitigating environmental harm.
- Integrating sustainability into healthcare practices is crucial for global public health.
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