Ethox Seminar: Is it acceptable to restrict patients’ welfare for physicians’ profit motive?
Dr Julia König, Physician, Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg; Researcher, Institute of Data and Medical Ethics, University of Heidelberg; and Andrew Markus Visiting Scholar, Ethox Centre
Thursday, 05 February 2026, 10.30am to 12pm
This will be a hybrid seminar in the Richard Doll Building Lecture Theatre (Old Road Campus) and on Zoom (please see link below to register to join online).
Abstract
At first glance, it seems uncontroversial that the primacy of patient welfare must not be restricted by physicians’ profit motive. Yet, the many economic considerations the allocation and distribution of limited resources introduce into health care systems challenge this presumption and call for a more nuanced discussion.
To exemplify: Certain cancer drugs can be administered on different routes: intravenous and subcutaneous. Administration route does not affect effects or increase side effects of the drug.
However, intravenous administration takes longer than subcutaneous administration, meaning that patients’ welfare is restricted as they spend more time in the healthcare setting when receiving intravenous treatment. In German outpatient healthcare, physicians generate more profit if those drugs are administered intravenously. The German outpatient healthcare depends
on registered private practices, therefore, it is important to generate profit. “Private” not referring to the patients’ insurance status, but to the practice being privately run and owned by one physician or more. Those physicians finance their registered outpatient practice and make their living with what they earn by treating patients while being the cornerstone of outpatient care. In this context, is it acceptable to restrict patient welfare for physicians’ profit?
In my research, I analyse the notion of profit and distinguish between different kinds of profit motives. Based on that, I critically examine whether patient welfare may, under certain conditions, legitimately be restricted by profit motives within healthcare systems.
To join online, please register here.