Question

For this first discussion, we examine the influence of ethical principles on health laws. Choose two real world examples of health laws. Examine the effect of ethical principles on the development of these laws. Include specific examples of each of these laws at work.

Answer 1

HIPAA Privacy Rule: This rule facilitates the patients with the choice to keep their medical information confidential and gives them the authority to decide how it can be used and disclosed.

The ethical principle of consumer confidentiality is the principle of the HIPAA privacy rule. Many patients are not comfortable with revealing their medical information to everyone. It is considered ethical that the patient must have the power of choice of revealing his medical information.

Stark Law and Patients Referral Act: This is a set of federal law, which was drafted with the objective of preventing physician self-referral. This law ensures that the referral must involve a physician who is registered under Medicaid.

The ethics involved in this law intend to stop any physician referral, done with the motive of financial gain. The patient deserves the best diagnosis and treatment. Hence the physician must refer the best treatment for the patient. This referral must not have any financial motive behind it, hence this Stark law was passed.