Health Care Ethics

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MBA 6277

Health Care and Ethics Topic Selection

James Smith

MBA 6277 U1A1

7/19/15

The utilitarian theory is an ethical theory was developed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. It is based on the concepts of right and wrong whereby the consequences of actions are determined. The theory stipulates that all actions should focus on bringing happiness to the maximum number of people while minimizing unhappiness. It is a theory that is not only focused on individuals’ interests but also the interests of other people. Bentham developed certain principles on utility. According to him, pain and pleasure have a significant role to play in the life of a human being. Bentham stipulates that the actions rare to be approved or disapprove in bases of pain and pleasure that they bring to people. Pain is equated with evil while happiness is equated to good. According to Bentham, pain and pleasure can be measured. On the other hand, John Stuart Mill emphasized on the greatest happiness to the most amount of persons. He was of the notion that pain and pleasure cannot be measured, and, therefore, the primary objective was on the quality of happiness rather than the magnitude of pleasure (Sen, 2014).

Managers have various roles in the healthcare setting such as strategic planning, spokesperson, collaboration, staff management among others. Utilitarianism theory can be applied by managers in their roles and responsibilities to ensure that the final consequences maximize happiness and minimize pain to most persons. Managers can use the theory to maximize profits and at the same time charge affordable prices to patients in a health facility that would cause the shareholders to be happy and also minimize costs to clients. During staff management, the manager should not be concerned with individual actions rather he/she should look out for the consequences of the action of employees. A manager should, therefore, be concerned with the well-being of the company by ensuring that patients, staff, and the shareholders rare fully happy while reduce pain at all costs. A manager should be concerned not only with his/her selfish interests but also the interest of other people (Baker, 2012). Managers should predict the consequences of their actions and, therefore, act in a way the benefits many people while reducing pain as much as possible.

Healthcare providers are faced with value dilemmas in their daily operations. Healthcare providers have their personal interests that may be conflicting with professional values. Utilitarianism theory shades the light that what matters most is happiness to most people that enable them to do things that maximize pleasure. Health care providers are expected to comply with all the laws and regulation of a country. Laws and regulations are meant to protect patients, and this dilemma can be explained by the principles of utilitarianism that advocates on the well-being of society.

The theory relates to the values of a heath care facility that include better customer service, proper diagnosis and treatment of clients among others. When healthcare providers accomplish the values of the medical firm, then customers are likely to be happy at the end while the pain caused by sicknesses is diminished or treated thoroughly. Saving lives could be one of the values of a health care provider, and it ultimately reduces pain and increases happiness to the families and patients. Additionally, healthcare providers are faced with a value of equality dilemma in which they are expected to treat all people regardless of their ages, nationality, color, sex or race. This value relates to the utilitarian theory as it advocates the well-being of all persons when all of them receive treatment, and thereby most of them become happy.

The value of social justice is also a value dilemma to healthcare providers. They are supposed to do their duties with justice to all people. This value dilemma relates with utilitarianism since people are happy when they are treated justly. Confidentiality is another value dilemma that relates to utilitarianism since it protects patients from exposure to their sickness to strangers and, therefore, avoids pain (Duignan, 2011).

References Baker, J. R. (2012). Ethical issues in managed health care organizations. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. Duignan, B. (2011). Thinkers and theories in ethics. New York: Britannica Educational Pub. in association with Rosen Education Services. Sen, A. K. (2014). Utilitarianism and beyond. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press.