Together for justice: News from the Upper Austria Ethics Day to Health Care

Together for justice: News from the Upper Austria Ethics Day to Health Care

At the second Upper Austria Ethics Day, which took place in Linz last Thursday, the question of justice in health care was put to the test. In view of dwindling resources and increasing demand, Christoph Doctor, head of the clinical ethics committee of the Linz religious clinic, emphasized that the discussion about justice in healthcare was not only theoretically but of practical importance for medical and nursing staff. The criticism of the distribution justice in the Austrian health system also came from health economist Ernest G. Pichlbauer. He pointed out that the perceived lack of resources is often due to structural deficits and a lack of reforms. The unequal distribution of health resources between the federal states and the use of non-inpatient versus inpatient facilities was particularly emphasized

focus on supply

The panel discussion dealt with a real case from Corona pandemic, which illustrated the urgency of ethical advice in healthcare. A patient who did not understand the need for his treatment due to cognitive restrictions was cared for intensive care. Despite his rejection of medical interventions, the later measures showed that more intensive care was necessary in order to ensure the same chances of survival. Ansgar Weltermann, head of the Upper Austria tumor center, also presented an effective example of a coordinated healthcare service, which was created by specializing and networking in the treatment of cancer patients and leading to relief for both patients and specialists. Such models could also be applied to other areas of healthcare to ensure even better care.

The event attracted around 300 participants from various health professions and was organized in cooperation with several institutions, including the Medical training academy Upper Austria. A third event is already planned in Gmunden on February 27, 2026 for the continuation of the interdisciplinary conference. Information on medical care in Upper Austria, which serves as the first point of contact for health concerns, are available on the website of the Upper Austria Medical Association, which helps visitors to find suitable general practitioners and specialist medical offers, such as doris.ooe.gv.at reported.