The Importance Of Medical Ethics In Medical Decision Making

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As human beings, we are inundated throughout our lives with ethical dilemmas. While these difficult choices are challenging, those dilemmas associated with medical choices can be extremely problematic. Families and medical professionals must decide the fates of people every day. A medical scenario involving an elderly woman named Jamilah Shah will be referenced throughout the work. This essay will dissect the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and justice, and how they help or complicate medical decision making. Advanced directives allow family and medical staff legal guidance in health decisions. These legally binding instructions are the direct, documented wishes of a competent individual making clear their healthcare wishes. In …show more content…

Bashir is exhibiting paternalism in making decisions based on what he believes to be best for his mother. Jamilah is highly educated, yet her son trusts he knows what is best for her. As this family is actively participating in Turkish culture, and because Bashir is a man, he is responsible for making choices for his mother, a woman. Turkish culture is one of patriarchy, and Jamilah’s son, Bashir, may be steadfast in these beliefs. He is using his mother’s age and in some ways, her gender against her. Beneficence instructs good to be done, and his decision does not support this. Jamilah’s outcome will be better with treatment. With treatment, his mother may have a chance for a few more years. If no treatment is afforded to her, she will most certainly die. He is only allowing for palliative measures, even when she may have a fighting chance. But as it may be possible to help Jamilah, will the cost of treatment and the trauma of the procedures really produce a beneficial outcome? The hospital staff may surmise that any further pursuit of costly treatments may not alter her prognosis. Would she survive these life saving measures? Perhaps she will not, but Bashir should conduct more investigation into the matter to make an informed choice. Medical staff have an obligation to help and heal, but where is the proverbial line? Would this possibly be viewed as negligence? The hospital staff have a standard of care expected of

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