Patient benefit as a goal of humanization

Area of Science:

• Healthcare ethics
• Clinical pharmacology
• Patient advocacy

Background:

• Patient empowerment and humanization are central to modern healthcare.
• Patient preferences, expectations, overall survival, and quality of life are key patient-centered outcomes.
• Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) are increasingly important for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the critical role of hospital pharmacists and regulatory agencies in humanizing healthcare.
• To highlight the importance of considering patient benefit-risk ratios and bioethical principles in drug evaluation and approval.
• To advocate for patient-centered decision-making in healthcare, prioritizing quality of life and survival.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of drug efficacy, safety, appropriateness, and efficiency by specialized hospital pharmacists.
• Application of evidence-based clinical practice.
• Analysis of the role of regulatory agencies in drug approval and financing, considering bioethical principles and patient-reported outcomes.

Main Results:

• Drug evaluation by hospital pharmacists, guided by technical factors and bioethics, enhances patient survival and quality of life.
• Organizations promoting rigorous drug evaluation act as allies to patients, impacting both individual care and societal well-being.
• Regulatory agencies approving drugs without considering quality of life or survival data, especially when alternatives exist, may compromise patient expectations and bioethical standards.

Conclusions:

• The humanization of healthcare must be oriented towards the fundamental objective of patient benefit.
• Rigorous drug evaluation and regulatory oversight are essential for ensuring patient-centered care and upholding bioethical principles.
• Integrating patient preferences and PROs into clinical decision-making is crucial for effective and ethical healthcare delivery.