Ethical Conflicts in Healthcare Administration

Running head: HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION 1
Introduction to Healthcare Administration
Name
Institution

HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION 2
Abstract
The medical field, it is filled with many moral dilemmas that affect the Institution, the society
and the staff. This brings about ethical conflicts in medicine. These are important ethical issues
which need to be addressed by healthcare administrators. Aristotle argued that human choices are
based on reason. Those choices are greatly influenced by emotions. What happens when one is
placed in a position where he has to make a choice either to do what is required according to the
regulations or to do what is right according to our moral beliefs? This creates a moral dilemma
which happens too often in the field of medicine. The four principles of medical ethics and the
ACHE code of ethics provide guidelines to the course of action to be taken when these issues
arise. This essay looks at one of the moral dilemmas which give rise to ethical conflicts
commonly faced by healthcare administrators. This essay takes an analytical view on how to
come to a conclusion that provides value to the parties involved. It takes a guided look on how
decisions with ethical implications are made as the decisions have an impact on the delivery of
quality medical care. It focuses on how we can improve our approach to ethics in medicine.

HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION 3
Introduction to Healthcare Administration
Understanding the Ethical Conflict
During the monthly utilization review, it was that patients are suffering from renal
distress and failure and the patients lack the insurance cover to cover their health costs. The
hospital also lacks a specialist in this field. The hospital is unable to provide services to the
patients due to their inability to pay their health bills and lack of a specialist. The hospital
management has to make a decision on offering the services for free, but this will mean financial
losses to the hospital. Several member of the board would argue that with that move, the
sustainability of the hospital would be negatively affected (Gillon, 2015). The decision to hinder
access of treatment to patients not insured maybe beneficial to the hospital but the patients will
be left at the mercy of fate. This raises an ethical concern as one of the principal ethics of
medicine is beneficence, the act in the benefits of others. The value of human life takes a bigger
weight as compared to other risks and costs.
Stakeholders Involved and Their Responsibilities
This ethical issue in order to reach an appropriate conclusion, all stakeholders must be
brought on board. I believe the views of the involved groups are important even if they may not
provide the solution. The ethical issues raise concerns on various issues including financial
issues. The patients, doctors, financial departments and the management should be involved.
Unfortunately, there is no specific solution to this dilemma but by weighing the risks involved
we are able to come up with a course of action.
The financial department should analyze and look at the losses the hospital will suffer if
they offer renal disease treatment to the patients for free. They should be able to determine the
severity of the losses. Severe losses may result to the hospital closing down. This has a big