The ethical responsibility of healthcare institutions in the governance of finite resources.
Keywords:
Bioethics, Distributive justice, Health governanceAbstract
Resource scarcity constitutes a structural condition of contemporary health systems, intensified by population aging, epidemiological transition, technological advancement, and the expansion of social expectations regarding medicine. In this context, health institutions assume a central responsibility in the governance of finite resources, being called upon to respond not only for administrative efficiency but also for the ethical legitimacy of allocation decisions. This article analyzes institutional ethical responsibility through a historical, political, social, and philosophical trajectory, articulating concepts of distributive justice,
clinical bioethics, and ethical governance. It argues that health resource management is an unavoidable moral exercise that requires transparent criteria, structured ethical deliberation, and a commitment to human dignity and the common good.
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