Ethical issues in the health care system

The purposes of this article are to discuss ethics and ethical principles as bases for decision making by health care professionals and to encourage dialogue among these professionals. Most people who begin a study of philosophy and ethics have philosophical beliefs; they have formed opinions about values and what constitutes ethical and moral behavior; they have ideas about autonomy and its place in the social structure. Advances in modern medical technology have, however, introduced new concerns among health care providers and consumers. Increased costs of provider services have tended to focus attention on costs and benefits of care, using monetary terms only. This article addresses the relation of ethics and morals to autonomy and the intertwining of specific concepts with costs and benefits to the consumer where costs to personal dignity and self-image are of particular importance. Included are a brief discussion of philosophical bases for decision making and definitions of terms common to the study of ethics.