ABSTRACT
This applied chapter continues the discussion of patient-related issues for governance ethics in healthcare organizations. Here, the ethics paradigm is applied to discuss board oversight of patient safety. First, the foundation component of the ethics paradigm deals the identity of an organization, reflecting the leitmotif who we are. This component highlights board oversight of error prevention as a hallmark of governance ethics for patient safety. In turn, this hallmark denotes an associated moral imperative concerning board oversight of a systems approach for patient safety. Second, the process component of the ethics paradigm addresses the accountability of the organization, reflecting the leitmotif how we function. This component highlights board oversight of deliberative processes for patient safety as a hallmark of governance ethics. In turn, this hallmark denotes an associated moral imperative concerning board oversight of proactive deliberations for patient safety. Third, the practice component of the ethics paradigm engages quality in an organization, reflecting the leitmotif what we do. This component highlights board oversight of practical mechanisms for patient safety as a hallmark of governance ethics. In turn, this hallmark denotes associated moral imperatives concerning board oversight of a patient safety culture.
