Abstract
In this paper the moral responsibility of a Healthcare Organization (HCO) is conceived as an inextricable aspect of the identity of the HCO. We attempt to show that by exploring this relation a more profound insight in moral responsibility can be gained. Referring to Charles Taylor we explore the meaning of the concept of identity. It consists of three interdependent dimensions: a moral, a dialogical, and a narrative one. In section two we develop some additional arguments to apply his concept of personal identity to organizations. The final section works out the relationship of three dimensions of identity to some actual issues in contemporary HCOs: the tension between care and justice, the importance of dialogues about the diversity of goods, and the relevance of becoming familiar with the life-story of the HCO. Identity of an HCO is established and developed in commitments to and identification with certain goods that are central for a HCO. However, many of these goods are interwoven with everyday practices and policies. Therefore, moral responsibility asks for articulation of goods that often stay implicit and should not be reduced to a merely procedural approach. However difficult this articulation may be, if it is not tried at all HCOs run the risk of drifting away from their very identity as healthcare institutions: to offer care to patients and to do this in accordance with demands of social justice.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Adeney, F.C. Review of, ‘‘Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity.” Theology Today 48 (1991). Available at: http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jul1991/v48-2-bookreview1.htm
D.C Blake (1999) ArticleTitle‘‘Organizational Ethics: Creating Structural and Cultural Change in Healthcare Organizations’‘ The Journal of Clinical Ethics 10 IssueIDno. 3 187–193 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7lslCgsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10693042
Breuer, I. Taylor. Rotterdam: Lemniscaat b.v., 2002
L.L Emmanuel (2000) ArticleTitle‘‘Ethics and the Structures of Healthcare’‘ Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 9 IssueIDno. 2 151–168 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0963180100902032 Occurrence Handle10742859
W.K Frankena (1973) Ethics, 2nd ed Englewood Cliffs, Prentice-Hall Inc. New Jersey
H. Frankfurt (1971) ArticleTitleFreedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person Journal of Philosophy 67 5–20
D.A. Goia (1998) From Individual to Organizational Identity D.A. Whetten P.C. Godfrey. (Eds) Identity in Organizations Building Theory Through Conversations SAGE Publications, Inc. Thousand Oaks, California, London, UK, New Delhi, India 17–31
E. Craig (Eds) (1998) Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Routledge London
H Joas (1999) Die Entstehung der Werte Suhrkamp Frankfurt am Main
Jennings, B., B.C. Gray, V.A. Sharpe, A.R. Fleischman, eds. Introduction. A Framework for the Ethics of Trusteeship.” In ibidem, eds. The Ethics of Hospital Trustees. 1–10. Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2004
G Khushf (2001) ArticleTitle‘‘The Value of Comparative Analysis in Framing the Problems of Organizational Ethics’‘ HEC Forum 13 IssueIDno. 2 125–131 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1011293506825 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3ovFWjsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11372224
J.J. Paris S.G. Post (2000) ArticleTitleManaged Care, Cost Control and the Common Good Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 9 IssueIDno. 2 182–188 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0963180100902056 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c3gslaltg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10742861
E.D Pellegrino (2000) ArticleTitle‘‘Bioethics at Century’s Turn: Can Normative Ethics Be Retrieved?’‘ Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 25 IssueIDno. 6 655–675 Occurrence Handle10.1076/jmep.25.6.655.6133 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3ht1GjsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11310409
D. Pendleton J. King (2002) ArticleTitle“Values and Leadership British Medical Journal 325 1352–1355 Occurrence Handle12468489
J.F Peppin (1999) ArticleTitle‘‘Business Ethics and Health Care: The Re-Emerging Institution–Patient Relationship’‘ Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 23 IssueIDno. 5 535–550
M.A.M. Pijnenburg H.A.M.J. ten Have (2004) ArticleTitleCatholic Hospitals in Modern Culture: a Challenging Relation’‘ National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4 IssueIDno. 1 73–88 Occurrence Handle15192852
J Rawls (1971) A Theory of Justice Harvard University Press Cambridge
L.N. Ray J. Goodstein M. Garland (1999) ArticleTitle‘‘Linking Professional and Economic Values in Healthcare Organizations’‘ The Journal of Clinical Ethics 10 IssueIDno. 3 216–223 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7lslCgtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10693046
P. Ricoeur (1992) ‘‘The Self and the Ethical Aim’‘ P. ␣Ricoeur (Eds) Oneself as Another University of Chicago Press Chicago, London 169–202
H.J Silverman (2000) ArticleTitle‘‘Organizational Ethics in Healthcare Organizations: Proactively Managing the Ethical Climate to Ensure Organizational Integrity’‘ HEC Forum 12 IssueIDno. 3 205–215
Singer, I. ‘‘Morality and Identity.’’ In Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Edited by E. Craig. London: Routledge, 1998. Retrieved November 17–2003, from http://www.rep.routledge.com.article/L066Sect1-4
N.S Smith (2000) Charles Taylor: Meaning, Morals and Modernity Polity Press in association with Blackwell Publishers Ltd. Cambridge UK
C. Taylor (1985) ‘‘Human Agency and the Self’‘ C. Taylor (Eds) Human Agency and Language. Philosophical Papers I Cambridge University Press Cambridge, London, New York, New Rochelle, Melbourne, Sydney 15–44
C. Taylor (1985) ‘‘The Concept of a Person’‘ C. Taylor (Eds) Human Agency and Language Philosophical Papers I Cambridge University Press Cambridge, London, New York, New Rochelle, Melbourne, Sydney 97–114
C. Taylor (1985) ‘‘The Nature and Scope of Distributive Justice’‘ C. Taylor (Eds) Philosophy and the Human Sciences. Philosophical Papers 2 Cambridge University Press Cambridge, London, New York, New Rochelle, Melbourne, Sydney 289–317
C Taylor (1989) Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity Cambridge University Press Cambridge UK
P van Tongeren (1986) ArticleTitleKollektieve verantwoordelijkheid ‘‘Algemeen Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Wijsbegeerte’‘ 78 IssueIDno. 2 17–34
F.J.H Vosman (2003) ArticleTitle‘‘Identiteit als praktijk van de zorginstelling’‘ Zin in Zorg 5 VI–VIII
B Williams (1985) Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy Fontana London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pijnenburg, M., Gordijn, B. Identity and moral responsibility of healthcare organizations. Theor Med Bioeth 26, 141–160 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-005-1833-6
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-005-1833-6