Question

What can those who work in the health care field do to help reduce this enormous environmental impact? What kind of obligation do those who work in hospitals and clinics have to the environment and how should they balance these moral requirements with their moral obligations to their patient's health and safety?

Answer 1

Health care field plays an important role in the production of environmental pollutants. Health care pollution will indirectly effect the public health resulting in health issues and even death. According to the research US health care is in 13 th position in production of green gas emissions. They use energy in the form of heat, electricity and energy intensive goods and services. Health care related emissions can cause global warming, ozone depletion, respiratory diseases from air pollutants, chemical exposure related cancers and environmental effects like acid rain.

Health care sector have to take safety movements to retain the environmental sustainability. The health care providers has role in encouraging the changes. Reduction of carbon emissions, curtailing wastes and managing resources can help to enhance environmental sustainability. More environmentally sustainable behaviour by the medical practitioners in health care facilities has to be done. It doesn’t mean in limiting the energy use and wastes but extended to better decision making, improve infrastructure and planning, public and preventive health care and innovative care ro the patients.

Promotion of national environmental sustainable unit is advisable. Education of society about theconcept regarding the sustainability is Important.