Ethical Responsibility in Environmentally Sustainable Health Care

Abstract

Environmental issues gained momentum in recent years, with consequences of climate change already being felt across the world. As the environment worsens health, human activities also influence the environment, by worsening this process, creating an uninterrupted cycle which might speed up climate change. The health sector plays a role as important as the other sectors, as one of the human activities with high impact on the environment, owing to the high consumption of resources, water and energy, and the production of millions of tons of waste daily across the world, overall contributing to high levels of greenhouse gases. This is especially important as health care institutions need to operate 24/7 to satisfy medical needs of the populations. However, few green measures have been implemented in this field, as it is perceived as costly and ineffective. Ethical concerns arise from this scenario, as corporate social responsibility and accountability weight in the decision of investing in green infrastructures. Efficiency and optimal financial management play a role on minimizing costs of existing activities, while trying to provide the best care to patients. This paper explores the rationale for implementing green measures, reviewing the current status of environmental sustainability within the health care sector, as it discusses different perspectives on ethical issues emerging when managing health institutions and how these can be instrumental to drive policy-based change.