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Healthcare: Is It An Exact Science?

Why the law is not an exact science and the implications for healthcare.

 
    Exact science refers to systemized knowledge in order that predictions and their verification are possible by measurement, experiment, observation, and vigorous, logical argument. (NationMaster.com). Laws are rules or actions prescribed by an authority that has a legal binding force. (Fremgen, 2006).   In most legal situations there is no one correct result, the information collected could be incorrect or falsified, also leaving us open to speculation and fallibility.

    The implications for healthcare in regards to the law include ethical issues, such as the law allows many actions that are morally offensive, such as manipulating people and the requirements of the law tend to be more negative. (Fremgen, 2006).   It has been observed that just because the law condones something, it doesn’t automatically make it ethical.   Also, laws can be reactive and may stagger in moral standards of society.   Although, the law and ethics are considered separate, they often go hand in hand in healthcare.
 
    The law is a guide in which to conduct one ’s self during interactions with others as well as protect the rights of all individuals, but it also has a tendency to have flaws, especially in the area of ethics and morality and mistakes have more than likely taken place at the cost of a patient at some time or another.   So it’s very critical that the patient as well as the healthcare provider understand the legal system and be more aware of legal rights concerning healthcare.   When dealing with laws there seems to be room for mistakes to be made as where with an exact science, it’s more precise and carefully thought out.

References
NationMaster.com. Retrieved on August 30, 2008 from http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Exact-science
Fremgen, B (2006). Medical Law and Ethics. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.