Are the management objectives for hospital physicians ethical?

Abstract

Management objectives at times create significant value conflicts that have so far been seldom studied. This article analyses the ethical issues created by the operational objectives of management for physicians who work in Spanish hospitals. These issues are as follows: 1) the current system places quantity above quality, which represents a predominantly economist management perspective; 2) the system is hierarchical, lacks participation and deprives clinicians of decision-making authority; 3) the objectives are focused on outdated activities in terms of the current reality of the healthcare system and should therefore be updated considering, for example, chronicity and the continuity of care. After analysing these issues, we created a proposal for developing management objectives based on prioritising quality care (which ultimately results in efficient management), developing objectives in a participatory and mixed manner (with group and individual objectives) and designing new objectives in keeping with the current reality of the healthcare system. Putting this proposal into practice is not complicated because the final goal of clinicians and management is to provide optimal health care.

Keywords: Bioethics; Bioética; Conflictos éticos; Ethical conflicts; Gestión sanitaria; Healthcare management; Management objectives; Objetivos de gestión.