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The VALUE of patient care is determined by our patients. This provides a conundrum for us though - a patient may deem a procedure or 'widget' valuable, but the organization does not and will not support it. How do you/would you approach this situation, knowing our organizational and professional livelihoods are dependent upon patients and their satisfaction?

User Fesler
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Final answer:

In healthcare, reconciling the value differences between patients and organizations requires dialogue rooted in care ethics and utilitarian considerations. This balance involves addressing the intrinsic and instrumental values of care, respecting patient autonomy, and considering global health disparities.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient values a healthcare service or procedure differently than the healthcare organization, it’s essential to engage in a dialogue underpinned by care ethics. This involves understanding the views of all involved and considering traits like compassion and responsibility. Balancing these values with principles like those proposed by utilitarianism, which suggests maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering, can be challenging.

Key considerations might include quality of life, ethical use of resources (“opportunity cost”), and the intrinsic versus instrumental value of medical interventions. To navigate this, one may pose questions about the balance of treatment costs, patient privacy risks, and quality of life outcomes.