Describe and Discuss the role
of justice as a guiding
principle in patient care
Harish S
11231063
What is Justice in Healthcare Ethics?
Fair Distribution No Disadvantage Core Ethical Principle
Justice means fairness in It ensures no patient is Justice is one of the four core
distributing healthcare unfairly disadvantaged due to ethical principles, alongside
resources and treatment, race, income,or background, beneficence,autonomy, and
ensuring equitable access for upholding non-maleficence,
all. impartiality. guiding ethical practice.
Justice vs. Equality: Key
Distinction
Equitable, Not Always Equal Prioritizing for Impact
Justice does not always For example, prioritizing
mean equal care for all, but cancer patients for urgent
equitable referral aims to improve
care based on need. This survival rates,demonstrating
means resources are justice through focused
allocated where they can intervention. This
make the most impact. balances fairness with
practical resource
limitations.
Justice in Action: Real-World Examples
Impartial Nursing
Free Prescriptions Prioritized Cancer Care
Nurses are ethically bound to
The NHS provides free Cancer patients receive
treat all patients impartially,
prescriptions to low-income prioritized treatment despite
regardless of
patients, promoting high costs, justified
social status, background, or
health equity by removing by the potential for significantly
personal connections,
financial barriers to essential improved health outcomes and
ensuring fair care for
medication. extended life.
everyone.
Ethical Dilemmas Involving Justice
Should expensive, life-saving treatments be
prioritized for a few, or basic preventative
care for many?
How can scarce resources be fairly allocated
during public health crises,
such as pandemics or natural disasters?
Balancing individual patient rights with the
broader societal benefit and the need for cost
-effectiveness in healthcare delivery.
Justice and Patient Rights
Justice underpins patient rights to fair access and
respectful treatment within the healthcare system. It
ensures that every
individual is treated with dignity and receives the care
they
deserve.
Healthcare professionals act as advocates to protect
these fundamental rights, ensuring that patients'
voices are heard
and their needs are met without bias or discrimination.
This principle ensures transparency in care decisions,
fosters cultural competence among providers, and
promotes respect
for diverse patient needs and beliefs, leading to more
inclusive and effective care.
Types of Justice in Healthcare
Distributive justice: Fair allocation of resources
Procedural justice: Fair and transparent decision-making
Social justice: Addressing social determinants of health
Justice in Clinical Practice
Equal access to diagnosis and treatment
Avoiding discrimination (gender, caste, religion, socioeconomic status)
Ensuring treatment decisions are based on clinical need, not financial
or social power
Justice in Allocation of Resources
ICU beds, ventilators, organs for transplantation
Prioritizing patients fairly when resources are scarce
Example: Triage in disasters or pandemics
Justice9s Role in Building Patient Trust
Patients who feel respected and justly treated are
significantly more likely to adhere to treatment plans and
actively participate in their own health
journey.
This foundation of trust strengthens therapeutic
relationships between patients and providers, ultimately
leading to improved health outcomes and greater
satisfaction for all.
Challenges to Justice in Modern Healthcare
1 High Costs & Limited Resources
2 Implicit Biases & Systemic Inequalities
3 Policy Implementation & Disparity Reduction
The rising costs of healthcare and finite resources continue to strain the ability to provide equitable access for
all. Furthermore,implicit biases and deeply embedded systemic inequalities often undermine the principle of
fairness.
Healthcare leaders face the critical task of implementing robust policies that actively promote justice and
work towards significantly reducing health disparities across all populations.
Conclusion: Justice as the
Foundation of Ethical Patient
Care
Justice ensures fairness, equity, and respect in healthcare
delivery, serving as the bedrock for all ethical considerations.
It guides difficult decisions, balancing individual patient needs
with the broader societal good, ensuring resources are
distributed thoughtfully and
ethically.
Upholding justice strengthens patient trust and improves
health outcomes for everyone, truly making it a cornerstone of
compassionate and effective care.
THANK YOU
