The role of medical humanities, ethical coaching and global bioethics in addressing the ethical vulnerability of health care practitioners

Abstract

This paper outlines the many ethical challenges faced today by health care practitioners. These challenges are not limited to the conventional bioethical challenges of life and death, informed consent, palliative care or research on human subjects only. The literature review suggests that complex matters such as a weakening health care system, health care research supported by the medical industry, socio-economic and socio-political circumstances, communication, and the globalization of bioethics contribute to the already numerous ethical challenges that presently intensify the ethical vulnerability of health care practitioners. Given this context, the aim of this paper is to unpack what the ethical challenges as experienced by health care practitioners entail and how health care practitioners can be supported to deal with these challenges. Aspects such as the medical humanities, ethical coaching and an integrated bioethical model to support health care practitioners are discussed. Ultimately, the discourse is based on the values of Christian ethics.