Determining the most ethically acceptable course of action in healthcare is known as?

The term that refers to determining the most ethically acceptable course of action in healthcare is bioethics. This field of study focuses on the moral principles and values that guide the practice of medicine and healthcare. Bioethics encompasses various ethical dilemmas that arise in healthcare settings, including issues related to patient autonomy, informed consent, end-of-life care, and the allocation of resources.

By establishing frameworks and guidelines for ethical decision-making, bioethics helps healthcare providers navigate complex situations where they must consider the well-being of patients alongside legal and social implications. This makes it critically important in ensuring that healthcare practices align with ethical standards and respond appropriately to the needs and rights of patients.

Medical ethics is closely related and also deals with questions of morality in medicine, but it typically contextualizes those questions within the practice and profession of medicine itself rather than the broader implications found in bioethics. Clinical judgment pertains to the ability of healthcare professionals to assess patients and make decisions based on clinical data, while healthcare policy involves the regulations and policies governing the healthcare system as a whole, rather than specific ethical considerations.