Climate change is a critical bioethical issue that healthcare systems must address with urgency and responsibility. Healthcare facilities contribute significantly to global carbon emissions and waste, which demands a holistic approach that considers the health of both individuals and the planet. The ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice traditionally guide clinical decision-making, but sustainability challenges require expanding these principles to encompass broader environmental and societal impacts. Through frameworks like Kidder’s Ethical Checkpoints, healthcare organizations can navigate complex ethical dilemmas, balancing immediate patient care with the long-term responsibility to minimize environmental harm. By fostering a culture of sustainability, the healthcare industry can uphold its ethical commitment to “do no harm” on a global scale, ultimately protecting and promoting the well-being of present and future generations.

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Ethics of Sustainability in Healthcare

  • Abby R. Gross,
  • William C. Bennett,
  • Benjamin T. Miller,
  • Sofya H. Asfaw

摘要

Climate change is a critical bioethical issue that healthcare systems must address with urgency and responsibility. Healthcare facilities contribute significantly to global carbon emissions and waste, which demands a holistic approach that considers the health of both individuals and the planet. The ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice traditionally guide clinical decision-making, but sustainability challenges require expanding these principles to encompass broader environmental and societal impacts. Through frameworks like Kidder’s Ethical Checkpoints, healthcare organizations can navigate complex ethical dilemmas, balancing immediate patient care with the long-term responsibility to minimize environmental harm. By fostering a culture of sustainability, the healthcare industry can uphold its ethical commitment to “do no harm” on a global scale, ultimately protecting and promoting the well-being of present and future generations.