Social Responsibility & Ethics

By Abdulla Israr & Simran Rani

Social Responsibility & Ethics 

Introduction

  • Definition: Social Responsibility refers to the obligation of an organization to act in ways that protect and improve the welfare of society as a whole, beyond its own interests and legal requirements.
  • In healthcare, this means providing equitable, quality, and ethical care while being mindful of societal needs, environmental impacts, and community health.

Dimensions of Social Responsibility in Healthcare

  1. Economic Responsibility – Providing affordable and cost-effective healthcare.
  2. Legal Responsibility – Following health laws, regulations, and compliance standards.
  3. Ethical Responsibility – Upholding patient rights, confidentiality, and ethical treatment.
  4. Philanthropic Responsibility – Charitable services like free camps, rural health initiatives.

Operationalizing Social Responsibility

Steps:

  1. Policy Formulation: Define ethical and social responsibility policies.
  2. Integration in Operations: Include CSR in clinical and administrative workflows.
  3. Stakeholder Involvement: Engage patients, staff, and community.
  4. Resource Allocation: Budget for community outreach, free services, etc.
  5. Training & Awareness: Staff sensitization on ethical and social values.
  6. Monitoring & Reporting: Regular audits and CSR reporting.

Examples in Hospitals:

  • Offering free/subsidized care for poor patients.
  • Environmental health initiatives (waste management, green OT).
  • Public health awareness campaigns.
  • Transparent billing and patient rights disclosure.

Measuring Social Performance

Key Indicators:

  1. Healthcare Access: % of underserved patients treated.
  2. Equity in Care: No discrimination based on gender, caste, income.
  3. Community Outreach: No. of health camps, awareness drives.
  4. Patient Satisfaction: Surveys, feedback mechanisms.
  5. Environmental Impact: Bio-medical waste disposal compliance.
  6. Charity Care Ratio: Free care value vs. total care provided.

Tools Used:

  • Balanced Scorecards
  • Patient feedback systems
  • CSR reports
  • Social Return on Investment (SROI)

Medical Audit

·        A medical audit is a systematic, critical analysis of the quality of medical care, including diagnostic and treatment procedures, use of resources, and outcomes.

Objectives:

  • Improve quality of care
  • Identify variations and gaps
  • Enhance accountability
  • Reduce medical errors

Types:

  1. Retrospective Audit – Analysis of past records.
  2. Concurrent Audit – While patient is still admitted.
  3. Prospective Audit – Before procedures are performed.

Steps in Medical Audit:

  1. Identify topic/problem
  2. Set standards of care
  3. Data collection
  4. Comparison with standards
  5. Analysis & action plan
  6. Re-audit to assess improvement

Ethics in Healthcare

·        Ethics refers to moral principles that govern behavior and decisions, particularly in matters of right and wrong.

Need for Ethics in Healthcare:

  • Safeguard patient rights and dignity
  • Deal with dilemmas in care and resource allocation
  • Build public trust
  • Prevent negligence and malpractice

Ethical Dilemmas:

  • Conflict between autonomy and beneficence (e.g., refusing treatment)
  • End-of-life care decisions
  • Organ transplantation priorities
  • Confidentiality vs. public interest
  • Use of unapproved treatments in emergencies

Values in Healthcare

·        Values are deeply held beliefs or ideals that influence attitudes and behaviors.

Characteristics of Values:

  • Guide behavior and decision-making
  • Learned from culture, family, education
  • Relatively stable but may evolve
  • May differ across individuals and societies
  • Influence ethical choices

Types of Values (Rokeach Value System):

1. Terminal Values (End Goals)

  • Represent desired end-states or outcomes.
  • Examples:
    • Health
    • Peace
    • Social recognition
    • Inner harmony
    • Wisdom
    • Equality

2. Instrumental Values (Means to End)

  • Preferred modes of behavior to reach terminal values.
  • Examples:
    • Honesty
    • Compassion
    • Responsibility
    • Courage
    • Discipline
    • Integrity

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