The Ethical Dilemma Facing Health Workers: To Collaborate or Resist
In authoritarian regimes, health workers are often forced to make a difficult choice: become complicit in the system or risk everything to resist. As Eric Reinhart notes, doctors and other medical professionals can be coerced into providing a veneer of legitimacy, using their skills to carry out the regime's agenda. This can involve wielding scalpels, syringes, or pens to implement policies that undermine human rights, or simply using their authority to restrict freedom. The consequences of resistance can be severe, making this a stark and high-stakes decision. Health workers must weigh their professional oath against the moral imperative to do no harm, in a battle for medical ethics and human rights. With the rise of authoritarianism, this dilemma is becoming increasingly common, highlighting the need for healthcare professionals to prioritize human rights and medical autonomy.
