ABSTRACT
Ethics defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “A theory or system of moral values” or professional ethics as “the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group.” Who decides what is moral: religions, philosophers, general consensus, or a panel of their peers? Is there an absolute truth? Most humans believe it’s ethical to help out one’s fellow individuals without consideration of social status, ethnicity, or cost. The recent supreme court decision King vs. Burwell 2015 indicates we are moving toward the ethical and moral high-ground of universal medical coverage for all
The U.S. Constitution does not specifically enumerate healthcare coverage, but the Supreme Court decision that upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius” (2012) sites the Constitution, Article I, Section 8, clause 1, which states, in part, that “[t]he Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes,..to… provide for the… general Welfare of the United States.” I. Even though they focused on the tax collecting portion in the decision, how do we ethically gauge the clause “provide for the general welfare of our citizens”? It seems the founders were grappling with the ethical role of government. Biomedical Informatics professionals need to be not only versed technically but also in how medicine is ethically applied fairly to all individuals (Figure 9.1).
