Abstract:
The main aim of this paper was to examine and analyze the ethical and moral issues in the healthcare
systems in Kenya
, with special emphasis being given to physician performance, nursing care and
professionalism.
The research was carried out in 8 (eight) provinces of Kenya, due to their cultural
similarity and findings established. Research questionnaires were prepared
and hand delivered to top
administrators, employees, students pursuing healthcare professions, religious leaders and patients as well
as private cooperates, government officials in Kenya especially in research regions. The paper employed
ethical theories s
uch as virtue ethics theory, deontological ethics theory, ethical learning and growth theory.
Teleological ethics, utilitarian theory and ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non
-
maleficence, double effect, confidentiality and informed consent
to build its content.
The research involved survey approach to get responses from the eight provinces. An analysis of the data
was carried out using principal component analysis. A major finding was found to be the weakening
influence of the healthcare
institutions to instill ethical concerns on the physicians, nurses and other
members of society on healthcare management in Kenya.
It was recommended that ethics should be employed to help in healthcare management and reinvent the
affected parties especia
lly the patients, nurses, physicians and healthcare institutions at large. This was to
involve healthcare management aided by ethical theories and values of humane living, through
establishment of ethical committees whose members live by ethical standards
of honesty, integrity,
commitments and accountability. This paper is purely ethical and first in its entirety in Kenya to focus on
ethics as a tool of enlightening and controlling healthcare institutions in Kenya
