In: Nursing
Why is justice in healthcare more complicated than just doing what is fair?
Justice is a complex ethical principle, with meanings that range from the fair treatment of individuals to the equitable allocation of healthcare dollars and resources. Justice is concerned with the equitable distribution of benefits and burdens to individuals in social institutions, and how the rights of various individuals are realized.
Fairness is one of the component of justice which is a broad term. If Justice is a concept about treating people fairly, then it is prudent to wonder what it means to be “fair.” In discussing a different aspect of Justice, distributive Justice, the concern focuses on who gets what treatment in healthcare, and who decides what treatments are administered. Is the decision based on need? Age? Prognosis?2 These concepts leave clinicians with many unanswered questions as to what is fair and equitable in the treatment of individuals.
Justice is a concept intended to promote fair and equitable treatment of individuals within populations. Ostensibly, it seems like a very straightforward and simple principle of Ethics. However, applying Justice within populations in clinical settings is often challenging and requires constant vigilance to ensure that its intentions are upheld.