Journal summary 13

Medical Ethics and Law in Radiologic Technology

  Introduction

Radiologic technologists are guided by medical ethics that are outlined in ethical standards established by professional body. The basis of such ethics is derived from various theories of ethics discussed below.

 Body

Medical ethics are basically guided by a person’s professional view of what is right or wrong.  As a medical practitioner, a radiologic technologist professional identity is founded in his or her ability to make right decisions relating to the health care offered to patients.  The individual uses personal values as the basis of determining what is right or wrong, evaluate their ideas , actions and relationships.  Ethics are defined externally but personally applied through behaviors that are consistent with values and beliefs outlined by the professional association.  There 8 theories that have greatly been applied to health care (Matthews & Matthews 2015). Aristotle’s Phronesis theory is based on the notion that a person should have more strength than their impulses and apply reasoning while making decisions.  Radiologic technologist should base their decision on what a reasonable person with similar training would do. The natural law theory by Thomas Aquinas focuses on natural law as an aspect of divine providence and human role as emerging from natural law.  It is based on the idea of practical rationality arising from basic good principle, which emphasis on respecting the dignity of others and assists them to live in their community (Matthews & Matthews 2015).  

The deontological ethics by Immanuel Kant is based on the idea that the greatest virtue comes from doing what should do since they have to or they agree to.  John Stuart Mill’s theory of utilitarianism focuses on the notion that morally sound or ethical decision or action is one that leads to greatest benefits to majority of people in the community.  Martin Buber theory was based on the idea that the greatest ethical relationship that a person can get into is I-THOU (Matthews & Matthews 2015). People in such a relationship can recognize the existing differences in people and embrace them as being valuable. Viktor Frankl is based on the notion that an individual who is conscious has moral integrity and tries to do thaty which is considered to be right. John Rawls theory is based on maximin principle and liberty principle. Liberty principle means that every person should enjoy same basic rights and maximin principle refers to actions that a person may take to tackle inequality in a society (Matthews & Matthews 2015).

 Lawrence Kohlberg theories hold that people have varying capacities of ethical reasoning and that health care administrators are bestowed with much authority and trust by the society. The last theory relates more to health care professionals including radiologic technologists who are guided by a standard of ethics that spell out principles of conduct. Health care professionals face litigation arising from violating such ethics and should understand the impacts of these lawsuits (Matthews & Matthews 2015).

Conclusion

Medical ethics guiding the radiologic technologists are majorly derived from Lawrence Kohlberg theories that emphasis on ethical reasoning, authority and trust. The professionals must be aware of such ethics to avoid litigations

References

Matthews E, Matthews T. Medical Ethics and Law of Radiologic Technology. Radiologic technology. 2015:163