Question

Who should decide when a healthcare procedure is medically necessary: the doctor who is treating the patient, or the health insurance company who is paying the bill? What are the moral and ethical issues concerning the insurance company making these decisions, which are driven by cutting healthcare costs and making a profit?

Answer 1

The doctor who is treating the patient should decide the healthcare procedure because he studies the nature of diseases or problems, when patient needs which type of medication, which patient needs surgeries or operations as they hold the professional degrees and know about the healthcare more than any other insurance company.

They might not serve justice: insurance company may not distribute the benefits and burdens of care to patients.

Not being beneficence: Not being good with the patient.

Not being Nonmalfeasance: Insurance company may not make sure about the harming of the patient.

Ethical values are not limited to just these certain principles. There are also few other important values to consider for example telling truth, transparency, respect for patients and thier families.

Insurance company may not treat patients well enough as to enjoy making a profits because they wish to cut the healthcare cost so that they have to pay little less.