Abstract:
Ethical dilemmas in Malaysian healthcare present complex challenges for medical professionals, particularly in balancing patient care with systemic constraints. Issues such as resource allocation, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, forced healthcare providers to prioritize certain patients over others, leading to difficult moral decisions about care deprioritization. Additionally, the principal-agent problem complicates relationships between physicians and patients, often resulting in conflicts of interest where physicians may prioritize financial incentives over patient welfare. There is a pressing need for robust ethical frameworks and training to equip healthcare professionals with the tools to navigate these dilemmas effectively while ensuring equitable patient care.
