Understanding the Ethical Implications of Steroid Prescription: Balancing Patient Autonomy and Medical Responsibility

Kintuza Lumwako Tebulo

Faculty of Medicine Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

The prescription and use of steroids, both corticosteroids and anabolic steroids, present significant ethical challenges in medical practice. While corticosteroids are integral in managing inflammatory conditions, their long-term use is associated with considerable side effects, necessitating careful medical supervision. Anabolic steroids, originally developed for medical purposes, are often misused for performance enhancement, raising concerns about health risks, fairness in sports, and informed consent. This review explores the ethical implications of steroid prescriptions, focusing on the balance between patient autonomy, informed consent, medical responsibility, and societal pressures. Key ethical principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, are discussed in the context of steroid use, highlighting the complex dilemmas healthcare providers face. The review emphasizes the need for clear ethical guidelines, stringent regulatory measures, and patient education to ensure responsible steroid use. It also examines the importance of equitable access to steroids for legitimate medical purposes and the role of healthcare providers in preventing misuse. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on medical ethics and inform best practices for steroid prescription, ultimately aiming to safeguard patient health and uphold professional integrity.

Keywords: Steroid prescription, corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, medical ethics, patient autonomy.

CITE AS: Kintuza Lumwako Tebulo. (2025). Understanding the Ethical Implications of Steroid Prescription: Balancing Patient Autonomy and Medical Responsibility. Research Output Journal of Engineering and Scientific Research 4(3): 60-64. https://doi.org/10.59298/ROJESR/2025/4.3.6064