"Compassionate Constellation of Healthcare" Bioethics Center

Introduction

As members of the TRN, you will all be invited to "team discussions" of the twelve (12) bioethics topics (some are a work-in-progress) listed below. If it seems like the twenty-fifth anniversary of the completion of the Genome Project has come and gone without policy inclusion from rank-and-file healthcare workers, you are not alone in your feelings even if you are relatively well medically trained:

It is time for the general public to be included: and we are first extending our invitations to the nurses. Starting in August, there will be bi-monthly discussions/workshops on monthly bioethics topics; August is Financial Governance in the Healthcare Field: Revenue vs. Service month. All members are welcome.

Mission

The mission of the "Compassionate Constellation of Healthcare (CCH)" Bioethics Center is to empower the general public to decide bioethical policies, perspectives and practices jointly and for themselves, regardless of socioeconomic status, demographic category or region of residence. The premise of these cyber-exhibits is that not only are all men created equal, but that all human beings are also of comparable value. Every attempt will be made to provide this Web-based free service, regionally, nationally and globally. This includes considering and supporting legislation to make the public’s concerns and considerations real.

Vision

The vision of the "Compassionate Constellation of Healthcare (CCH)" Bioethics Center is to provide an open source, multimedia hub for the dissemination of knowledge, expertise and education related to bioethics regionally, nationally and globally that is systemically equitable, including support for relevant legislation.

Tentative topics of inquiry include but are not limited to:

  1. January: Combatting Coronavirus - A Virtual Perspective
    This exhibit/course/webinar will focus on the policies and practices needed to promote a virtual economy as imposed by the current health crisis. If we do not move to a virtual economy with laser speed, our international economies may collapse. This can be avoided and at worst minimized. Emphasis will be placed on how current innovations in this field will and/or should affect future policies related to these topics by "ramping up" virtual employment infrastructure in a joint regional, national and international bipartisan collaboration with greater speed.
  2. February: Bioethics - Legal Issues and Health Care Law
    This exhibit/course/webinar students/viewers will focus on the national and international laws governing the practices of health care, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry in relation to the Coronavirus Challenge. Topics covered include legal, social, and ethical issues in human genetics, biodiversity issues on a global stage, and the regulations and laws governing the manufacturing, transport, and sales of pharmaceuticals on a regional, national, and global level. Emphasis will be placed on what legal ramifications are available for states that may be inequitably represented by the federal government in terms of allocation of resources related to the eradication of the Coronavirus. Additional emphasis will be placed on effective policies for minimizing potential “gauging” practices of scarce medical resources during this potential crisis.
  3. March: Bioethics & Disability
    In this exhibit/course/webinar viewers will examine the relationship between allocation of Coronavirus healthcare treatment and the treatment of persons with disabilities. The definition of persons with disabilities includes those people confined to hospitals, assisted living and nursing homes at this time. Emphasis will be placed on taking a holistic perspective, including but not limited to such topics as accessibility, fitness and mental wellness. The aspiration of full employment through accessible vocational design for all qualified persons with disabilities will be a feature of this presentation. Also included will be a consideration of how people with disabilities can be more readily included by virtual voting practices that are relatively impenetrable by outside interference.
  4. April: Bioethics - An International Perspective
    In this exhibit/course/webinar students/viewers will become familiar with the international agencies and international, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that are associated with "taking on this healthcare crisis head-on." Note: this section may be broken down by region (e.g., by continent and/or by province) and will be further "filled in" by leaders from the charter post-secondary "invitees" at their discretion.
  5. May: The Pharmaceutical Industry - Ethical Perspectives
    In this exhibit/course/webinar students/viewers will be asked to objectively interact through a collective critique of the ethical practices of the pharmaceutical industry. Issues such as whether and how the pharmaceutical industry should be more-or-less regulated at this time of crisis, the corporate social responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies in this potential crisis, whether the pharmaceutical companies are in fact helping us avert it, and how codes of ethics and mission statements should reflect ethical practices within the pharmaceutical industry at this critical time in history will be covered throughout the panel discussion/debate.
  6. June: Bioethics for the Health Care Professional
    This exhibit/course/webinar is designed to assist healthcare professionals working with patients/clients during this potential crisis. Of paramount importance is the ability to listen, understand, and effectively communicate with people faced with decisions regarding their health and well-being while preventing both the patient and practitioner from overreacting or panicking. Additional emphasis will be placed on disseminating information relevant to promoting the critical importance of healthcare practitioner safety with the understanding we may be needlessly asking them to risk their health and even their lives without decisive, proactive, coordinated effort(s) on a worldwide-efforts.
  7. July: Bioethics and Bio-agriculture
    In this exhibit/course/webinar students/viewers will consider the ethical ramifications of holistic nutrition and organic food in comparison to bio-agriculture (the transgenic crops derived from the implementation of biotechnology techniques). The course will take a critical look at genetically modified foods (food genetically altered through the use of genetic engineering). In addition, information pertaining to publication bias against natural products, ethics in supplement manufacturing, food packaging and labeling, food production and distribution will be covered. Farm bill policies and how they affect what foods are available will also be reviewed.
  8. August: Financial Governance in the Healthcare Field - Revenue vs. Service
    This exhibit/course/webinar will review and discuss financial considerations of actual healthcare services on a regional, national and global level to meet this crisis "head on." Emphasis is placed on how cost savings can be reached through socially entrepreneurial initiatives (e.g., the double bottom-line, or "doing well while doing good") in the healthcare field without bankrupting such industries as the insurance and other industries.
    Note: Topics will be covered monthly, with members determining the other four (4) selections. Discussion questions will accompany each month:
  9. September-December: TBA

Discussion Questions for August include but are not limited to:

  1. Does every citizen have the right to healthcare?
  2. At what point should healthcare procedures be elective?
  3. How can fundraising for hospitals be improved?
  4. Is it too easy to sue a healthcare institution?
  5. If you could be CEO of all hospitals for a year, what financially-related changes would you make? Why?
  6. What patent benefits should pharmaceutical companies be able to have through patents? Should there be any limits?
  7. At what point should genetic screening and/or genetic engineering be publicly funded- if ever?
  8. Is having nurses work long hours really financially viable for the healthcare employer? Why or why not?
  9. True or false: high patient to nurse ratios make for economically viable hospitals.
  10. Etc.