Term Paper on "Moral Preference Indicator"

Term Paper 7 pages (1941 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Philosophy

Field Research Report:

Moral Preference Indicator Testing of Medical Profession

This report represents a field research report which consists of details and data gathered from the administering of the moral preference indicator on members of the healthcare system. The United States healthcare system is a compilation of health plans, physicians, hospitals, clinics, consumers, and public health programs. This research focused in on one such professional organization called the Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc.

The clientele of our American healthcare system consists of two basic groups: those who can afford to pay for their healthcare and those who cannot. This separation creates a moral dilemma that medical professional must face day in and day out. The profession is based on a code of conduct that suggests that all people should be helped when in distress or need. The profession is also based on a foundation of any other revenue generating business entity, that is, the healthcare system creates bills that need to be paid.

The medical profession must therefore respond to the needs of millions of Americans and foreign immigrants who may or may not have the ability to pay for services. This brings about a problem for the medical professions underlying philosophical assumption that each person is of great worth and is free to receive medial attention.

With that being said, the Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. are a unique part of the medical profession because they strive to provide medical attention for all those who are not able to pay for needed services and therefore address the before mentioned philosophical concern of helping all in spite of affluence. This research aims to discover if these medical professionals are morally different in regard to ethical behavior demonstrated by healthcare and medical professionals. In other words, do the Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. professionals meet the criteria of the Utilitarian Ethics potion when Moral Preference Indicator Testing is performed?

Moral Preference Indicator Analysis

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to present the findings of a field research report revolving around the details and data gathered when administering a moral preference indicator testing on professional members of the Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. The overall objective was to understand and present the findings of the MPI testing, to establish a group profile based on the results and to understand the contractarian and social welfare approach of ethical issues.

The report will attempt to present insights in to the organization, the overall healthcare system as well as the findings for the individuals who participated. It must be understood that medical professionals themselves need to be encouraged and assisted in the process of enhancing and managing their externally oriented motivations while also attending to their own internal drives.

One must consider that like all other medical professionals, they have bills and children and personal lives. So, to work in a facility like Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. may require a different type of mentality or life philosophy. Like any other medical professional, it is imperative that these professionals maximize every opportunity to facilitate each patient's well being; however, they must understand before hand that they may not get paid for the services they provide. Therefore, they must find some internal motivation that helps get them to perform at the expected level. "An even bigger obstacle, though, may be our low expectations on the job. Love, family, community - those are supposed to be the true sources of happiness, while work simply gives us the means to enjoy them." (Thottam, 2005)

The report is laid out in a typical field research layout. This entails an understanding of the target group, insight into the organization they are members of by presenting their mission statement, the prior expectations of this research, the details of the test administration, details of the MPI results, a group sphere and a conclusion.

Target Group

The target group consisted of one doctor, three nurses and a medical administrator all either working full or part time for Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. One of the greatest problems in today's medical profession and United States healthcare system is the fact that far too often, those in need are turned away because an inability to pay for medical services.

When I learned of the Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc., I felt that they as a process or organization were an example of what our modern day healthcare system should be like. Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. is one of the few healthcare systems that do not place as much emphasis on the financial side of illness. To qualify for their assistance, you only need to be ill or injured and they will attempt to help. The process therefore does not discriminate against anyone - rich or poor, Mexican or white.

By incorporating the various partnerships, state local and federal funding options and other means, Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. finds a way to help people of all ages from 1 to infinite whether they are insured or uninsured. They also get the most out of options such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the majority of private insurances or health management organizations (HMO's) that can help cover related costs. For those insured, a patient only has to contact his insurance provider, but those who are uninsured find relief here as well.

The question must be answered, do these dedicated professionals at Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. have some higher level of moral fortitude. "On the other hand, if the account allows that one can have concern for something beyond the extent to which that concern furthers the agent's well-being, then well-being does not capture the whole of what matters to the agent. And if this is allowed then a primary reason to focus our moral attention only on people's well-being would seem to be undermined. We ought to wonder why we should focus only on the agent's well-being when much of what matters most to the agent is not served by serving her well-being and when she perhaps prefers that we promote the broader category of what matters to her rather than just her well-being." (Sobel, 1998) Do they feel that they are not in line with the rest of the medical profession and/or the entire healthcare system? These types of questions were instrumental in my having chosen these specific professionals for this research project.

Mission Statement

Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. is a special program in the Lee County Health Department. The program was established in 1964 and received its not-for-profit private healthcare corporation status in 1977. Some may assume that the not-for-profit status may imply less than adequate service. but, contrary to this line of reasoning, the centers are accredited by one of the highest possible recognitions in the healthcare industry, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Family Health Centers today is one of the largest multi-specialty primary healthcare provider groups in Lee County. Family Health Centers is community-based, and locally owned and operated. Family Health Centers offers comprehensive primary and preventive healthcare services including: medical diagnoses and treatment for general illnesses, physical examinations and immunizations, maternity care (prenatal and postpartum), preconception planning, prenatal education classes, nutrition, mammography, gynecology, well woman care, medical social services, pharmacy, x-ray, laboratory testing, dental, pediatric care, screening and treatment for cancer, diabetes and hypertension, and other medical conditions." (Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida Inc., 2005) Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. can be much better understood by the mission statement of the organization:

It shall be the mission of Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. To provide primary healthcare, preventative healthcare, and health related educational services to the medically underserved, migratory agricultural workers, and other special populations who require access to healthcare. Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. will work with the various communities to identify, plan, and deliver a variety of heath care services which will meet the needs of those communities."

All medical care and related services will be of a quality that insures dignity to and respect for the patient/client. Center services will not be denied due to an individual's ability to pay. Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. will cooperate with and enter into partnership with the State and local health providers and such other organizations that will contribute to the stated mission. Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. will serve as an active, participating member of our Southwest Florida communities.

Expectations

The healthcare community has received a reputation for being cold and callous to the needs of the poor and those who have immigrated here either legally or illegally. My expectations started with this impression in mind. "Preference accounts of a person's good as they are typically used by consequentialists face a serious dilemma. The dilemma is this: either the account takes everything that matters to the person to constitute a… READ MORE

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