Ethical issues in decision making by hospital health committee members in Turkey

Sari N., Sari H.

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS, vol.40, no.6, pp.381-382, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 40 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1136/medethics-2012-100728
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.381-382
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Hospital health committees (HHC) in Turkey review medical reports from clinical practitioners and decide whether or not they are justified. As a rule, each HHC member is expected to observe and examine each patient and then evaluate the report. If the report from the patient's doctor is approved, then the Social Security Administration, a state organisation, will meet all of the patient's expenses covering treatment, medication and operations. Justification of health expenditure is crucial for the state because health resources have to be carefully allocated. Conflicts of obligation also generate ethical issues which have to be resolved as well. However, HHCs are not designed to make ethical decisions. An overall concept of organisational ethics needs to be developed.