Models of Moral Behaviour in Healthcare

Abstract

The study of current models of moral behaviour in Russian public health service is the subject of this paper. Its methodological basis relies on the theory of social action and the fundamental principle of consciousness and behaviour unity. The author undertakes an ethical analysis of medical activity constituents, emphasizing their dependence on the dominant moral values and social norms. The factor of the growing commercialisation in medicine is thoroughly inspected, which comes into conflict with the principles of humanism and mercifulness. As a result of the research, various types and forms of doctors’ and patients’ behaviour are identified and the role of morality in the regulation of both is featured. The author argues against transferring economic schemes to the healthcare sector. What is really decisive here are medical and socio-moral goals and results. The main attention in the study is paid to the models of social behaviour as value-normative complexes determining the attitudes and actions of people. The paper highlights such models of physicians’ moral behavior as paternalistic, contractual, technocratic, as well as models of dominance (with assumptions), compassion, cooperation and service. The conclusion emphasises the necessity to strengthen moral guidelines in medical workers’ professional area and increase the role of social health institutions which establish the moral criteria for evaluating the relevant activity.