Title: The Ethical Principle of Justice: The Purveyor of Equality | Population Health Learning Network
Headings: The Ethical Principle of Justice: The Purveyor of Equality
The Ethical Principle of Justice: The Purveyor of Equality
Content: 2 These concepts leave clinicians with many unanswered questions as to what is fair and equitable in the treatment of individuals. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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In light of the challenges inherent in defining Justice, it is fair to say that it is a concept involving fairness, equality, and equitable treatment. Specifically, Justice involves the application of fairness to individuals in population groups or communities. In order to apply Justice in any scenario, individual factors should be examined on their own merit. Each scenario is unique and should be addressed accordingly. Consider what Justice means within a small patient population or community. For example, the long-term care (LTC) setting has a community of residents, all of whom live together and interact with staff on a daily basis. The daily pressures of regulatory compliance, process improvement, and attention to clinical outcomes in LTC can threaten the consistent application of Justice, as can the pressures on facility administration to maintain staff morale. In making policy and in establishing standards of practice in LTC, it is imperative to uphold the principle of Justice. More specifically, residents should receive care that is fair and equitable, and upholds their basic rights as equal citizens in a shared community.