Health Care and Ethics (Coursework Sample)

Student’s Name
Lecturer’s Name
Subject
Date
Outline
* Introduction
* Definition
* Origin
* Application
1 Learning
2 Secrecy
3 Protection
4 Morality
5 Prescription
* Conclusion
The Hippocratic Oath
Introduction
All professions have ethics and codes of conduct that regulate the behavior of all clients and service providers. Healthcare is guided by universal codes of conduct that must be respected by all medical practitioners (Higgins 9). These guidelines are contained in the Hippocratic Oath that aims at ensuring patients get quality services. This discussion describes the importance of this oath to medical staff, patients and their family members.
Definition
An oath is a commitment to observe, respect and conduct oneself in a manner stipulated by procedures, rules and regulation. This oath is common among many practicing physicians to ensure their duties are guided by honesty and morals.
Origin
There is no clear explanation that describes the author or time when this oath was written even though it is believed to have been in existence before the end of the 5th century. Speculations abound that Hippocrates or one of his followers may have written this oath even though there is no concrete evidence to prove this fact (Higgins 3). However, there are other facts of ancient medicine that links Hippocrates with other medical writings. Therefore, scholars believe that he was indeed the author of this oath.
Application
One fundamental aspect of this oath is the promotion of learning through respecting medical tutors, teachers and supervisors (Bloche 12). All medical trainers, their families and immediate friends are to be respected due to their contributions in this field (Higgins 4). This oath explains that all medical practitioners should treat their trainers’ children with respect since they play significant roles in promoting various medical careers. This also includes teaching and offering help to other medical practitioners without asking for payments. Therefore, doctors, nurses and healthcare givers swear by this oath that they will endeavor to advance the profession by respecting their trainers and helping all those studying and practicing medicine.
Secrecy
Workers are guided by the principle of secrecy that requires them to withhold crucial information regarding their patients. Similarly, medical practitioners have a similar regulation that ensures they keep to themselves some confidential information gathered from patients during consultation, examination and treatment (Higgins 4). Human health is a very delicate matter that must be handled carefully; therefore, people suffering from embarrassing infections and conditions should not fear to expose their problems to doctors. On the other hand, doctors should keep this information to themselves and not share with any third parties like friends or family members without the patient’s consent.
Protection
This is a fundamental aspect in healthcare services that ensures human life is protected and given first priority. This means physicians must avoid anything that destroys life or makes it miserable (Bloche 13). These activities include abortion, mercy killing and wrongful prescriptions that cause death or subjects patients to long term suffering. In addition, all physicians struggle to ensure they apply their knowledge and training to improve human life by restoring their health and dignity. Therefore, this principle guides them in ensuring that human life is respected and protected against abuse.
Morality
Physicians swear to respect human life and offer their services without any hidden motive. Self discipline is an essential guideline that ensures doctors and nurses respect their patients, colleagues and the public (Higgins 6). Therefore, this oath guards physicians against having any intimate relationships with their colleagues, patients and their relatives. This ensures they respect their patie...