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Ethics of Well-Done Work and Proposals for a Better Healthcare...
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Ethics of Well-Done Work and Proposals for a Better Healthcare System

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Policy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2025 | Viewed by 2847

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Vittoradolfo Tambone

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Guest Editor
Bioethics and Humanities Researche Unit, School of Medicine, Campus Biomedico, Center Fondazione Policlinico CBM, University Healthcare Bioethics, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
Interests: clinical bioethics; applied ethics; legal medicine; politics and public health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Laura Campanozzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Unit of Bioethics and Humanities, Campus Bio-Medico, University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Interests: clinical bioethics; medical ethics; clinical reasoning; clinical ethics consultation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Anna De Benedictis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Direction, Campus Bio-Medico, University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Interests: clinical bioethics; quality improvement; healthcare management; person-centered care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the complex landscape of modern healthcare, the intersection of ethics and the quality of work is more critical than ever. This Special Issue, titled “Ethics of Well-Done Work and Proposals for a Better Healthcare System,” aims to explore the fundamental principles that drive the ethical delivery of high-quality healthcare services. As healthcare systems around the world face unprecedented challenges, from resource constraints to evolving patient needs, commitments to ethical standards and excellence in practice remain paramount.

Our contributors delve into a diverse array of topics, from ethical considerations in patient care and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals to systemic reforms that can enhance the overall efficacy and equity of healthcare systems. Through rigorous analysis and thoughtful discourse, this Special Issue seeks to provide comprehensive insights and actionable proposals for fostering a healthcare environment where ethical imperatives and well-executed work go hand in hand.

By addressing the ethical dimensions of healthcare delivery, we aim to highlight the best practices and innovative strategies that can lead to better patient outcomes and a more just and efficient healthcare system. The articles within this Special Issue reflect a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating perspectives from medical ethics, health policy, clinical practice, and beyond.

We invite readers to engage with the thought-provoking discussions and practical recommendations presented, with the hope that this Special Issue will contribute to the ongoing efforts to improve healthcare systems worldwide, ensuring they are both ethically sound and operationally effective.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Vittoradolfo Tambone
Dr. Laura Campanozzi
Dr. Anna De Benedictis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ethics of well-done work
  • healthcare system
  • best practice
  • proactive medicine
  • bioethics
  • medical ethics

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 271 KiB  
Article
Policy Challenges in Ultra-Rare Cancers: Ethical, Social, and Legal Implications of Melanoma Prevention and Diagnosis in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
by Pietro Refolo, Costanza Raimondi, Livio Battaglia, Josep M. Borràs, Paula Closa, Alessandra Lo Scalzo, Marco Marchetti, Sonia Muñoz López, Joan Prades Perez, Laura Sampietro-Colom and Dario Sacchini
Healthcare 2025, 13(3), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030321 - 4 Feb 2025
Viewed by 990
Abstract
Background: The ultra-rare nature of melanoma in children, adolescents, and young adults poses significant challenges to the development and implementation of effective prevention and diagnostic strategies. This article delves into the ELSIs surrounding these strategies, placing particular emphasis on the transformative potential of [...] Read more.
Background: The ultra-rare nature of melanoma in children, adolescents, and young adults poses significant challenges to the development and implementation of effective prevention and diagnostic strategies. This article delves into the ELSIs surrounding these strategies, placing particular emphasis on the transformative potential of AI-driven tools and applications. Methods: Using an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach, this study integrated a PICO-guided literature review and qualitative insights from two focus groups. The review included 26 peer-reviewed articles published in English from January 2019 to January 2024, addressing ELSIs in melanoma, rare diseases, and AI in dermatology. Focus groups included a March 2024 session in Berlin with 15 stakeholders (patients, caregivers, advocates, healthcare professionals) and a November 2024 online session with 5 interdisciplinary experts. Results: Six key priorities for healthcare policies emerged: addressing cultural factors, such as the glorification of tanned skin; enhancing professional training for accurate diagnosis; balancing the risks of overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis; promoting patient autonomy through transparent communication; reducing inequalities to ensure equitable access to care; and making ethical and legal use of AI in healthcare. Conclusion: These priorities provide a comprehensive framework for advancing the prevention and diagnosis of melanoma in children, adolescents, and young adults, leveraging AI technologies while prioritizing equitable and patient-centered healthcare delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics of Well-Done Work and Proposals for a Better Healthcare System)
11 pages, 773 KiB  
Article
The New Italian Guidelines for Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART): Ethical and Medico-Legal Issues
by Costanza Raimondi, Claudia Casella, Emanuele Capasso, Laura L. Campanozzi, Giulia Mercuri, Antonio Oliva, Antonio G. Spagnolo and Pietro Refolo
Healthcare 2025, 13(2), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13020195 - 19 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1003
Abstract
Background: On 20 March 2024, the Italian Minister of Health, in collaboration with the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità) and the National Health Council (Consiglio Superiore di Sanità), issued updated guidelines for assisted reproduction technologies (ART). They introduced two [...] Read more.
Background: On 20 March 2024, the Italian Minister of Health, in collaboration with the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità) and the National Health Council (Consiglio Superiore di Sanità), issued updated guidelines for assisted reproduction technologies (ART). They introduced two key changes: (1) permitting post-mortem embryo transfers, allowing a woman to proceed with the procedure after her male partner’s death, and (2) permitting embryo transfer even if the male partner is alive but the relationship has ended. Objectives: This study explores the ethical and medico-legal challenges posed by the updated Italian ART Guidelines, with a specific focus on the complexities of informed consent and the ethical dilemmas introduced by these provisions. Methods: This study employs a comprehensive review of legislation, case law, and a comparative analysis of national and international norms. Primary and secondary sources include laws, regulations, court decisions, and key ethical and medico-legal perspectives. Results were organized into two thematic areas: the medico-legal dimension, focusing on informed consent, and the ethical dimension, addressing post-mortem and ex-partner embryo transfers. Results: The new guidelines exacerbate the already intricate ART landscape in Italy. Post-mortem and post-relationship embryo transfers raise significant ethical concerns and amplify legal uncertainties. Conclusions: These updates highlight the pressing need for legislative reform to address unresolved ethical and legal issues in ART. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics of Well-Done Work and Proposals for a Better Healthcare System)
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Review

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10 pages, 554 KiB  
Review
Should Artificial Intelligence-Based Patient Preference Predictors Be Used for Incapacitated Patients? A Scoping Review of Reasons to Facilitate Medico-Legal Considerations
by Pietro Refolo, Dario Sacchini, Costanza Raimondi, Simone S. Masilla, Barbara Corsano, Giulia Mercuri, Antonio Oliva and Antonio G. Spagnolo
Healthcare 2025, 13(6), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13060590 - 8 Mar 2025
Viewed by 448
Abstract
Background: Research indicates that surrogate decision-makers often struggle to accurately interpret and reflect the preferences of incapacitated patients they represent. This discrepancy raises important concerns about the reliability of such practice. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based Patient Preference Predictors (PPPs) are emerging tools proposed to [...] Read more.
Background: Research indicates that surrogate decision-makers often struggle to accurately interpret and reflect the preferences of incapacitated patients they represent. This discrepancy raises important concerns about the reliability of such practice. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based Patient Preference Predictors (PPPs) are emerging tools proposed to guide healthcare decisions for patients who lack decision-making capacity. Objectives: This scoping review aims to provide a thorough analysis of the arguments, both for and against their use, presented in the academic literature. Methods: A search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify relevant publications. After screening titles and abstracts based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 publications were selected for full-text analysis. Results: The arguments in favor are fewer in number compared to those against. Proponents of AI-PPPs highlight their potential to improve the accuracy of predictions regarding patients’ preferences, reduce the emotional burden on surrogates and family members, and optimize healthcare resource allocation. Conversely, critics point to risks including reinforcing existing biases in medical data, undermining patient autonomy, raising critical concerns about privacy, data security, and explainability, and contributing to the depersonalization of decision-making processes. Conclusions: Further empirical studies are needed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of these tools among key stakeholders, such as patients, surrogates, and clinicians. Moreover, robust interdisciplinary research is needed to explore the legal and medico-legal implications associated with their implementation, ensuring that these tools align with ethical principles and support patient-centered and equitable healthcare practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics of Well-Done Work and Proposals for a Better Healthcare System)
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