The virtues of limits and environmental sustainability in healthcare

TL;DR

This paper explores how adopting a virtue ethics approach can promote sustainable healthcare practices by valuing resources responsibly.

Contribution

The paper introduces a virtue ethics framework for sustainability in healthcare, inspired by McPherson's work.

Findings

A virtuous appreciation of healthcare resources can promote responsible stewardship.

Failure to value resources leads to unsustainable healthcare practices.

Recommendations are provided for cultivating sustainable health practices.

Abstract

The spectre of human‐induced climate change has drawn attention to the need to discover new, environmentally sustainable approaches to healthcare. This article draws upon David McPherson's The Virtues of Limits (2021) to develop a virtue ethics for sustainability in healthcare. I explore how a virtuous appreciation of the value of healthcare resources can lead us to exercise stewardship in our use of those resources, whereas a failure to appreciate the value of resources can lead to irresponsible and unsustainable patterns of use. I close with some recommendations of how health systems might go about facilitating the cultivation of the virtues of sustainable health practice.