EMPLOYEE RIGHTS, MANAGED CARE AND PATIENT SAFETY Essay - 1

EMPLOYEE RIGHTS, MANAGED CARE AND PATIENT SAFETY - Essay Example Such requests to abstain from certain patient treatment strategies are generally reviewed by an ethics committee. A similar right has been afforded to employees in cases involving abortion of fetuses if they consider it to be unethical. A similar right of refusal is also under consideration for pharmacists who can refuse to dispense medications meant for abortions if they deem it to be unethical and against their moral conscience. A caregiver or a nurse also has the right to question the concerned physician regarding the care given to a patient. If the explanation provided by the physician is unsatisfactory the caregiver has the right to take up the matter with a higher authority for further clarification (Pozgar, 2012). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides protection against employee discrimination on the basis of sex, age, nationality, race and religion. It also affords protection for workers against sexual harassment within a healthcare facility. The most vulnerable population wh o are more prone to face sexual harassment in an healthcare setting are nurses who are in many cases exploited by colleagues, physicians or patients for sexual favors in return for employment or which interferes with the working environment of the employee (Pozgar, 2012; Legal, Ethical and Safety Issues, n.d). The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) has issued guidelines against sexual harassment and also prohibits the creation of a hostile environment by improper sexual conduct. Nurses also have the right to offer appropriate guidance to the patient’s family even if it involves suggestions to change the physician especially in cases of patient negligence (Pozgar, 2012).Every individual working in the healthcare industry is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect by their employers. They must pay heed to the employee’s complaints, problems and concerns