Junior doctors and moral exploitation

Parker, Joshua (2019) Junior doctors and moral exploitation. Journal of Medical Ethics, 45 (9). pp. 571-574. ISSN 0306-6800

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Abstract

In this paper I argue that junior doctors are morally exploited. Moral exploitation occurs where an individual's vulnerability is used to compel them to take on additional moral burdens. These might include additional moral responsibility, making weighty moral decisions and shouldering the consequent emotions. Key to the concept of exploitation is vulnerability and here I build on Rosalind McDougall's work on the key roles of junior doctors to show how these leave them open to moral exploitation by restricting their reasonable options. I argue that there are a number of ways junior doctors are morally exploited. First, their seniors can leverage their position to force a junior to take on some discreet decision. More common is the second type of moral exploitation where rota gaps and staffing issues means junior doctors take on more than their fair share of the moral burdens of practice. Third, I discuss structural moral exploitation where the system offloads moral burdens onto healthcare professionals. Not every instance of exploitation is wrongful and so I conclude by exploring the ways that moral exploitation wrongs junior doctors.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Medical Ethics
Additional Information:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3306
Subjects:
?? psychologyhealth(social science)issues, ethics and legal aspectshealth policy ??
ID Code:
171577
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
10 Jun 2022 15:00
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 22:43