The chaplain as hospital ethicist in the cost containment struggle.
How can quality health care be maintained in the era of cost containment? This article argues that allegiance to relevant ethical principles at the root of the health car process is necessary and that the chaplain can make an important contribution by discussing them within the institution. This article seeks to be a resource to such discussions and presents three fundamental ethical assumptions and three specific principles which can aid in shaping the health care cost containment struggle. Case studies are provided as a context for the ethical principles.
D002604:Chaplaincy Service, Hospital; D003363:Cost Control / Q000592:standards*; D004989:Ethics; D004991:Ethics, Institutional; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States