Health Workers Rights Issue Paper
Should health workers have same rights as other workers to unionize and if they deem it to be necessary to go on strike?
Physicians and other health workers are entitled to strike, to protect their interests in terms of fair wages, working environment and other issues (Kemp, 2013). However, their involvement in strike raises ethical issues, as they have a vital role in maintaining the health of the sick, who may suffer at the hospital beds in light with their strike. Hence, in regards to the huge expense the citizens would suffer, health workers should unionize but have other options in airing their issues other than striking.
Are healthcare occupations qualitatively different than other occupations because of their role in working in life-and-death situations? …show more content…
Health workers roles are qualitatively different from other professions, due to working in life and death situations, it is this attribute that results to ethical dilemma if they should participate in strikes (Davies, 2015).
In close similarity, the security forces also play a major role in providing security, but they are not entitled to strike as it will cause adverse and costly aftermath. Hence, healthcare options, play a vital role in satisfying basic health need in other words society survival revolves around them.
If nurses cannot unionize and strike what options do they have in bargaining for better job conditions? Other than going to strike the health professionals can use their unions to fight for their rights through engaging the relevant bodies in talks and negotiations (Mfutso-Bengu J, 2002). More so, lobby groups can also sensitize the public, to champions for the rights of the health workers through peaceful campaigns. Lastly, health workers can put down their tools in administrative functions to get their employers attention, but care for the sick, however, the strategy does not have much weight.
Is your position the same or different regarding the right of physicians to unionize and
strike? Nurses and other health professionals should not be entitled to strike as much as it is their right since ethically it does more harm. About the critical role they play, other avenues of getting their employers attention are better than striking since they do not harm the patients or raise an ethical dilemma.
What are the conditions if any in which you think that a physician strike would be justifiable? A physician strike would be justifiable, where the patients’ health is a threat or risk due to poor facilities, lack of enough workforce, and high turnover rate of hospital workers. The oath taken by physicians deters them from putting patient’s life at risk, i.e., Hippocratic Oath (BMC Medical Ethics, 2013), hence any factors threatening this function can call the need for a strike.
References
BMC Medical Ethics. (2013, December 19). Global medicine: Is it ethical or morally justifiable for doctors and other healthcare workers to go on strike? Retrieved from BMC Medical Ethics: https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6939-14-S1-S5
Davies, M. (2015, October 19). Is it ethical for doctors to strike? Retrieved from BMJ careers: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/Is_it_ethical_for_doctors_to_strike%3F
Kemp, D. S. (2013, January 14). Can Health Care Providers Ethically Go on Strike? Retrieved from Verdict: https://verdict.justia.com/2013/01/14/can-health-care-providers-ethically-go-on-strike
Mfutso-Bengu J, M. A. (2002). Is it ethical for health workers to strike? Issues from the 2001 QECH general hospital strike. Malawi Medical Journal . The Journal of Medical Association of Malawi., 29-31.
Physicians and other health workers are entitled to strike, to protect their interests in terms of fair wages, working environment and other issues (Kemp, 2013). However, their involvement in strike raises ethical issues, as they have a vital role in maintaining the health of the sick, who may suffer at the hospital beds in light with their strike. Hence, in regards to the huge expense the citizens would suffer, health workers should unionize but have other options in airing their issues other than striking.
Are healthcare occupations qualitatively different than other occupations because of their role in working in life-and-death situations? …show more content…
Health workers roles are qualitatively different from other professions, due to working in life and death situations, it is this attribute that results to ethical dilemma if they should participate in strikes (Davies, 2015).
In close similarity, the security forces also play a major role in providing security, but they are not entitled to strike as it will cause adverse and costly aftermath. Hence, healthcare options, play a vital role in satisfying basic health need in other words society survival revolves around them.
If nurses cannot unionize and strike what options do they have in bargaining for better job conditions? Other than going to strike the health professionals can use their unions to fight for their rights through engaging the relevant bodies in talks and negotiations (Mfutso-Bengu J, 2002). More so, lobby groups can also sensitize the public, to champions for the rights of the health workers through peaceful campaigns. Lastly, health workers can put down their tools in administrative functions to get their employers attention, but care for the sick, however, the strategy does not have much weight.
Is your position the same or different regarding the right of physicians to unionize and
strike? Nurses and other health professionals should not be entitled to strike as much as it is their right since ethically it does more harm. About the critical role they play, other avenues of getting their employers attention are better than striking since they do not harm the patients or raise an ethical dilemma.
What are the conditions if any in which you think that a physician strike would be justifiable? A physician strike would be justifiable, where the patients’ health is a threat or risk due to poor facilities, lack of enough workforce, and high turnover rate of hospital workers. The oath taken by physicians deters them from putting patient’s life at risk, i.e., Hippocratic Oath (BMC Medical Ethics, 2013), hence any factors threatening this function can call the need for a strike.
References
BMC Medical Ethics. (2013, December 19). Global medicine: Is it ethical or morally justifiable for doctors and other healthcare workers to go on strike? Retrieved from BMC Medical Ethics: https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6939-14-S1-S5
Davies, M. (2015, October 19). Is it ethical for doctors to strike? Retrieved from BMJ careers: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/Is_it_ethical_for_doctors_to_strike%3F
Kemp, D. S. (2013, January 14). Can Health Care Providers Ethically Go on Strike? Retrieved from Verdict: https://verdict.justia.com/2013/01/14/can-health-care-providers-ethically-go-on-strike
Mfutso-Bengu J, M. A. (2002). Is it ethical for health workers to strike? Issues from the 2001 QECH general hospital strike. Malawi Medical Journal . The Journal of Medical Association of Malawi., 29-31.