strain on global healthcare infrastructures. Contemporary healthcare practice, however, often remains separated from ecological ethics despite mounting evidence that human well-being is inseparable from the health of the planet. This conceptual and review-based article examines how ecological ethics, eco-theological perspectives, and planetary health principles can be integrated into modern healthcare practice to create a holistic vision of healing that encompasses both people and the natural environment. Drawing from interdisciplinary scholarship spanning moral theology, environmental philosophy, public health, and clinical ethics, the article explores the conceptual foundations of ecological ethics, the ecological determinants of health, and the reciprocal relationship between environmental stewardship and human flourishing. It presents applied models for integrating ecological ethics into clinical practice, public health systems, health workforce training, and policy, and highlights case examples where ecological principles have improved health outcomes and community resilience. The manuscript argues that ecological ethics provides a moral, scientific, and practical framework for reorienting healthcare toward sustainability, justice, and interdependence. Integrating ecological ethics into healthcare practice strengthens public health resilience, addresses environmental contributors to disease, and promotes therapeutic relationships that extend beyond the patient to the broader ecosystem. Future directions include scaling planetary health education, embedding ecological impact assessments into clinical decision-making, strengthening multisectoral collaborations, and institutionalizing environmental stewardship as a core healthcare competency. Adopting ecological ethics positions healthcare not only as a healing profession but also as an integral participant in the restoration and protection of the natural systems that sustain life.
STD Justin Chukwunonso Nzekwe (Thu,) studied this question.