Analyzing the Ethical Implications of Resource Allocation and Patient Autonomy in Rehabilitation Medicine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/mw2023117Keywords:
Rehabilitation Medicine, Resource Allocation, Patient Autonomy, Chi-Square Tests, Correlation Analysis, Regression Analysis, Clinical PracticeAbstract
Ethical dilemmas in rehabilitation medicine, especially around resource allocation and patient autonomy, play a critical role in clinical decision-making. The challenge of limited resources makes it essential to understand how physicians navigate these issues in their daily practice. The objective is to analyze how resource constraints affect ethical decision-making in rehabilitation, focusing on balancing patient autonomy with the allocation of limited resources. A survey was conducted with 73 rehabilitation doctors, assessing their views on key ethical issues in resource-limited settings. Chi-square tests were used to identify associations among demographic factors and ethical attitudes, Correlation Analysis examined the relationship between views on resource allocation and patient autonomy. Regression Analysis was employed to identify significant predictors of ethical decision-making, with an emphasis on experience and professional background. Chi-Square Tests showed that Patient Autonomy Priority (χ² = 5.12) were more likely to prioritize patient autonomy, while Resource Allocation Efficiency (χ² = 6.21), more experienced doctors leaned toward resource efficiency. Correlation Analysis revealed a moderate relationship between attitudes toward resource allocation and patient autonomy, suggesting potential conflicts in decision-making. The findings underscore the influence of demographic factors on ethical decision-making in rehabilitation medicine. Understanding these influences can guide interventions aimed at fostering a more balanced, patient-centered approach to care in resource-limited environments, offering valuable insights for improving ethical practices in clinical settings.
References
1. Dobrzański LA, Dobrzańska-Danikiewicz AD, Dobrzański LB. Effect of biomedical materials in the Implementation of a long and healthy life policy. Processes. 2021 May 14;9(5):865.https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9050865.
2. Ditwiler RE, Swisher LL, Hardwick DD. Professional and ethical issues in United States acute care physical therapists treating patients with COVID-19: stress, walls, and uncertainty. Physical therapy. 2021 Aug 1;101(8):pzab122.https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzab122.
3. Najem J, Shun PL, Laliberté M, Ravitsky V. Assessing Rehabilitation Eligibility of Older Patients: An Ethical Analysis of the Impact of Bias. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal. 2018;28(1):49-84.https://doi.org/10.1353/ken.2018.0002.
4. Hunt M, Clarke S, Lencucha R. When a patient’s choices entail risks for others: third-party risks, relational ethics, and responsibilities of rehabilitation professionals. Disability and rehabilitation. 2021 Mar 12;43(6):870-6.https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2019.1637950.
5. Martineau JT, Minyaoui A, Boivin A. Partnering with patients in healthcare research: a scoping review of ethical issues, challenges, and recommendations for practice. BMC medical ethics. 2020 Dec;21:1-20.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-0460-0.
6. Schwartz DB, Barrocas A, Annetta MG, Stratton K, McGinnis C, Hardy G, Wong T, Arenas D, Turon‐Findley MP, Kliger RG, Corkins KG. Ethical aspects of artificially administered nutrition and hydration: an ASPEN position paper. Nutrition in clinical practice. 2021 Apr;36(2):254-67.https://doi.org/10.1002/ncp.10633.
7. Laventhal N, Basak R, Dell ML, Diekema D, Elster N, Geis G, Mercurio M, Opel D, Shalowitz D, Statter M, Macauley R. The ethics of creating a resource allocation strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatrics. 2020 Jul 1;146(1).https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-1243.
8. Singh S. Disability ethics in the coronavirus crisis. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2020 May 1;9(5):2167-71.https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_588_20.
9. Mentzelopoulos SD, Slowther AM, Fritz Z, Sandroni C, Xanthos T, Callaway C, Perkins GD, Newgard C, Ischaki E, Greif R, Kompanje E. Ethical challenges in resuscitation. Intensive care medicine. 2018 Jun;44:703-16.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-018-5202-0.
10. Akdeniz M, Yardımcı B, Kavukcu E. Ethical considerations at the end-of-life care. SAGE open medicine. 2021 Mar;9:20503121211000918.https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211000918.
11. Hulsbergen AF, Eijkholt MM, Balak N, Brennum J, Bolger C, Bohrer AM, Feldman Z, Holsgrove D, Kitchen N, Mathiesen TI, Moojen WA. Ethical triage during the COVID-19 pandemic: a toolkit for neurosurgical resource allocation. ActaNeurochirurgica. 2020 Jul;162:1485-90.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-020-04375-w.
12. Sunarti S, Rahman FF, Naufal M, Risky M, Febriyanto K, Masnina R. Artificial intelligence in healthcare: opportunities and risk for future. Gaceta sanitaria. 2021 Jan 1;35:S67-70.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2020.12.019.
13. Blot F, Dumont SN, Vigouret-Viant L, Verotte N, Rossignol J, Rieutord A, Fournier-Bidoz N, De Jésus A, Dauchy S, Chardonnet F, Baldini C. Ethical issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with cancer: experience and organisations in a French comprehensive cancer centre. BMJ supportive & palliative care. 2020 Aug 27;12(4):413-20.https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002504.
14. Erdmann A, Rehmann-Sutter C, Bozzaro C. Patients’ and professionals’ views related to ethical issues in precision medicine: a mixed research synthesis. BMC medical ethics. 2021 Aug 31;22(1):116.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-021-00682-8.
15. Ye J, Xiao A, Yu L, Wei H, Wang C, Luo T. Physical restraints: an ethical dilemma in mental health services in China. International journal of nursing sciences. 2018 Jan 10;5(1):68-71.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2017.12.001.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Pradeepta Sekhar Patro, Jamuna KV, Rama Sankar (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.
