Abstract:
Th is paper outlines the many ethical challenges faced today by health
care practitioners. Th ese challenges are not limited to the conventional
bioethical challenges of life and death, informed consent, palliative care
or research on human subjects only. Th e literature review suggests that
complex matters such as a weakening health care system, health care
research supported by the medical industry, socio-economic and sociopolitical
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.
