THE CONTRIBUTION OF BIOETHICS TO HOME HEALTHCARE (HHC) IN SAUDI ARABIA (SA)

Abstract

This dissertation examines the contribution of bioethics to Home Healthcare (HHC) In Saudi Arabia (SA). Through exploring the critical bioethical issues that have influenced the implementation of home health care, the dissertation highlights the significance of incorporating bioethics in home health care. Organizational ethics has led to the regulation of healthcare professionals, patients, and the stakeholders within clinical care settings. Healthcare organizations and other stakeholders, such as global health bodies, should formulate laws and policies that promote bioethics in contemporary healthcare. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the Ministry of Health, should promote the adoption of home health care services across the country. Understanding and respecting the cultural context of Saudi Arabia (SA) is crucial for understanding the contribution of bioethics to HHC. Hence, after the introduction to the dissertation in Chapter 1, the analysis in Chapter 2 examines the context of HHC in SA by focusing on culture and diversity. The next three chapters discuss clinical ethical issues from the start to the end of life. Chapter 3 explores HHC at the beginning of life, examining the role of consent in decision-making, especially related to prenatal and neonatal care. Chapter 4 considers issues in HHC across the span of life, such as regarding mental health and breakthroughs in genetics and cancer care. Chapter 5 deals with ethical issues at the end of life in HHC, including the role of ethics consultations and concerns related to palliative care and assisted death. Chapter 6 shifts the analysis from clinical to professional and organizational ethics in HHC to discuss ethical issues related to moral distress among professionals and the connection between integrated care and quality improvement. The dissertation concludes with a brief conclusion in Chapter 7.