Ethical Issues in Healthcare
Ethical Issues in Healthcare
Healthcare ethics involves making well researched and considerate decisions about medical treatments, while taking into consideration a patient 's beliefs and wishes regarding all aspects of their health. The healthcare industry, above any other, has a high regard for the issues surrounding the welfare of their clientele: their patients. This paper will focus on HIPPA, confidentiality, the efficiency and cost of information systems and doctor-patient relationship.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, is a law designed “to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, to promote the use of medical savings accounts, to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes. When confidential patient information is disclosed without consent it is a violation of the HIPAA Title II Security Rule. This rule was enacted in response to private information being leaked to the news and emails containing privileged information were read by unauthorized people. Identity theft is a real concern so patient privacy should be taken seriously. This is a rule can easily be broken without the offender feeling any malice towards the victim for example gossip and curiosity. Gossip in a medical office can have devastating effects on a health care facility’s reputation. Employees engaging in idle chatter to pass the time can inadvertently be overheard by patients or family members.
Primarily, computer storage and exchange of information is the area where HIPAA intersects with technology. Anytime a computer stores patient information, the computer must have HIPAA precautions. For instance, the computer should only be accessible by certain persons who have a special access code and/or password to utilize the
Healthcare ethics involves making well researched and considerate decisions about medical treatments, while taking into consideration a patient 's beliefs and wishes regarding all aspects of their health. The healthcare industry, above any other, has a high regard for the issues surrounding the welfare of their clientele: their patients. This paper will focus on HIPPA, confidentiality, the efficiency and cost of information systems and doctor-patient relationship.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, is a law designed “to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, to promote the use of medical savings accounts, to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes. When confidential patient information is disclosed without consent it is a violation of the HIPAA Title II Security Rule. This rule was enacted in response to private information being leaked to the news and emails containing privileged information were read by unauthorized people. Identity theft is a real concern so patient privacy should be taken seriously. This is a rule can easily be broken without the offender feeling any malice towards the victim for example gossip and curiosity. Gossip in a medical office can have devastating effects on a health care facility’s reputation. Employees engaging in idle chatter to pass the time can inadvertently be overheard by patients or family members.
Primarily, computer storage and exchange of information is the area where HIPAA intersects with technology. Anytime a computer stores patient information, the computer must have HIPAA precautions. For instance, the computer should only be accessible by certain persons who have a special access code and/or password to utilize the
References: Shekelle P, Morton SC, Keeler EB. “Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology. Evidence Reports/Technology Assessments” No. 132. April 2006. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK37992/ “How present is the idiom ‘off the record’ in healthcare?” Medical Ethics Advisor September 1, 2011: Vol. 27, No. 9 pp. 97-108 Retrieved from UMUC Library McGowan, Claire. “Patients’ Confidentiality” Critical Care Nurse Vol. 32, No. 5 October 2012 pp. 61-65 Retrieved from UMUC Library Reynolds, George W. (2012). Ethics in information technology (4th ed.). Independence, KY: Cengage Learning, Inc. Nogara, J.S. “How HIPAA Law Affects Technology” Retrieved April 3, 2013 http://www.ehow.com/about_5220807_hipaa-law-affects-technology.html