The ethical responsibility of the hospital to the environment

The ethical responsibility of the hospital to the environment is a relatively new concept. It is complex and ever changing as the whole field of medicine continues to evolve. The recent dilemmas of medical waste washing up on beaches and waste-laden barges not finding an accepting port should convince us that this issue is becoming more serious. Responsible change in this area calls for creative and imaginative leadership. It is a terrible contradiction when an institution committed to the health and wholeness of those whom it serves is not also committed to the health and wholeness of the environment.