What Are the Actual Ethical Principles for Personal Responsibility for Health?

Each year seven out of 10 Americans die from chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Adjustments in lifestyle -- such as a healthier diet, increased exercise and tobacco cessation -- would prevent much of this chronic illness. In addition, chronic disease accounts for approximately 75 percent of health care spending in the United States. Given this relationship between lifestyle, disease and health care costs, individuals are increasingly challenged to examine their own ethical responsibilities for health-related choices and behaviors.

Respect for Self

• People generally view freedom to choose diet, physical activities or nicotine consumption as a basic right. However, ethical principles for personal health responsibility suggest that you do your best to stay healthy. Visit your primary care provider for periodic check-ups and when you are sick. Adhere to treatment plans and take prescribed medications as directed. Ask questions when you do not understand how to manage your illness or condition. Become a partner in your health care as your provider cannot successfully treat you without your complete cooperation.

Respect for Others

• The golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, is also known as the concept of reciprocity and is a basic moral construct. In this regard, it is unethical to adversely affect the health of other people. For instance, use respiratory precautions -- such as covering your mouth when you cough -- to prevent the spread of illness, such as the flu. Keep medication in a safe place and away from children. Also, do not tempt friends or acquaintances who are striving, or possibly struggling, to make better lifestyle choices for themselves. Consider donating blood and contributing to a donor database for organ and tissue donations to help your fellow man.

Respect for the System

• Recognize your obligations to contribute to fair and efficient use of health care resources. Do not use a hospital emergency room as you would a doctor's office as emergency room services are far more costly. Instead, only use emergency room services in a real emergency. Also, when you do have an appointment to see a health care provider, keep your appointment or cancel it as far in advance as possible. Wasted appointments are not fair to others who also need access to services.

Considerations

• Controversy exists about whether the health care system may ration services based on personal responsibility. Arguments exist that patients with lifestyle illnesses, such as obesity or smoking-related disease, should have less access to services. While this view is appealing to some, critics of such policies argue that this practice is contrary to medicine's obligation to treat the sick and take care of vulnerable populations. Opponents also contend that individuals cannot be held responsible for their own health if their capacity for making decisions is hindered due to ignorance, mental incompetence, addictive behaviors or cultural pressures.