ETHICAL ISSUES IN AUSTRALIAN HOSPITALS

Objective: To identify the most common ethical issues of concern in Au stralian hospitals. Design: A descriptive study using data collected b y means of a questionnaire. Participants: Seven hundred and thirty-nin e (74%) hospital administrators and employees nominated by hospital ad ministrators in Australian public and private hospitals. Results: Over half the respondents reported that ethical concerns had been raised i n relation to: making ''not for resuscitation orders''; the treatment of patients with HIV and AIDS; interprofessional conflict; and the all ocation of resources. Conclusion: ''End of life'' concerns, patient au tonomy issues, questions of resource distribution, and communication d ifficulties commonly raise ethical concerns in Australian hospitals.