McNeill P M, Walters J D, Webster I W
School of Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington.
Med J Aust. 1994 Jan 17;160(2):63-5.
To identify the most common ethical issues of concern in Australian hospitals.
A descriptive study using data collected by means of a questionnaire.
Seven hundred and thirty-nine (74%) hospital administrators and employees nominated by hospital administrators in Australian public and private hospitals.
Over half the respondents reported that ethical concerns had been raised in relation to: making "not for resuscitation orders"; the treatment of patients with HIV and AIDS; interprofessional conflict; and the allocation of resources.
"End of life" concerns, patient autonomy issues, questions of resource distribution, and communication difficulties commonly raise ethical concerns in Australian hospitals.
