HEALTH CARE ETHICS

The 21st century medical practice emerged from developments in technologies as well as new discoveries or findings in the recent past. Consequentially, future health care practitioners must be aware of the new issues from the moral and philosophical perspectives. It is for this purpose that health care ethics became part of the fundamental subjects in Nursing. Practically, the issues of importance that are usually given ample time for academic discussions are: 1) health professional and patient relationships, 2) patient autonomy and competence in the context of end of life decision making, and 3) justice in health care distribution according to Michael Stallard in 2000 at Michael.Stallard@nau.edu.