Health-Care provision becomes extremely challenging when dealing with complicated circumstances that require professional competence in resolving ethical dilemmas. Physicians have a responsibility to apply medicine within an ethical framework that is beneficial to patients while conforming to existing laws. Such a direction is difficult due to the mix of varying values, preferences, interests and existing regulations. Here, a clear guidance on best approaches to help physicians solve ethical dilemmas is helpful. This paper explores the four component model moral framework, which physician can apply to specific cases to resolve ethical dilemmas that arise in the general healthcare.
Ethical Framework
This paper applies the four component model
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Beneficence requires that concerned physicians act in the best interest of Miss K to improve her wellbeing (Lo, 2015). However, considering respect and dignity for Miss K to decide what is best for her, can physicians decide the best actions they can take to improve Miss K wellbeing? Although physicians may take actions they believe will prolong Miss K’s lifetime as well as improve the quality of her life, Miss K has been abusing drugs and refusing to take antibiotics; thus, adversely affecting her health in the process. Besides, confidentiality requires that physicians handling Miss K do not disclose information touching on concerns such as her HIV status and her drug addiction (Teitelbaum & Wilensky, …show more content…
Here, physicians would need to know whether Miss K can competently decide what is best for her in view of information about her condition. Here, physicians can do an evaluation as well as give standardized tests on the same (Donnie, 2013). Moreover, physicians would need to know about close relatives, who can act as surrogates who can help to decide on the arising problematic concerns. Miss K would provide such information.
In case physicians find Miss K competent enough to make her own decisions, they would ask her on the course and type of medication she would want. Other scenarios may require the help of surrogates. Miss K would also need to give information on key concerns about her confidentiality; hence, significant outcome in deciding helpful programs such as drug rehabilitation (Donnie, 2013). Moreover, the scope of medication must align with existing legal frameworks (and professional ethics) such as regulations on HIV and drug abuse patients. Here, reference to attorneys for legal interpretation of requirements would suffice (Lo,
Today, there are so many legal dilemmas dominating trial for the courts to make a sound legal decision on whose right in a complicated situation. Despite the outcome of the case, the disagreement usually has a profound effect on the healthcare organization, and the industry as a whole. Many cases are arguments centered around if the issue is a legal or moral principle. Regardless what the situation maybe, the final decision is left to the courts to differentiate between the legality issues at hand opposed to justifying a case based on moral rules. According to Pozgar (2012), an ethical dilemma arises in situations where a choice must be made between unpleasant alternative. It can occur whenever a choice involves giving up something good and suffering something bad, no matter what course of action is taken (p. 367). In this paper, I will discuss cases that arose in the healthcare industry that have been tried and brought to justice by the United States court system.
During week 4, we became familiar with the application of ethics in the nursing practice settings. We learned about ethical theories and principles, which are crucial when practicing in any clinical settings during ethical decision-making and while facing one or multiple ethical dilemmas. Also, we were introduced to the MORAL model used in ethical decision – making progress. The MORAL model is the easiest model to use in the everyday clinical practice, for instance at bedside nursing. This model can be applyed in any clinical settings and its acronyms assist
Gedge, E., & Waluchow, W. (2012). Readings in health care ethics (2nd ed.). Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Press.
Principles of Biomedical Ethics, by Tom Beauchamp and James F. Childress, has for many critics in medical ethics exemplified the worse sins of "principlism." From its first edition, the authors have argued for the importance and usefulness of general principles for justifying ethical judgments about policies and cases in medical ethics. The organization of their book reflects this conviction, dividing discussion of particular ethical problems under the rubrics of the key ethical principles which the authors believe should govern our moral judgments: principles of autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence and justice.
The physician will question the patient about any stressors she may be contending with at home or work prior to her entering the hospital. The physician will order lab tests and speak with the patient to understand the psychological factors; a referral will be made for making a final diagnosis. After the physician reviews both lab tests and the psychological factors, a referral will be made for the patient to see a clinician. The referral will focus on obtaining support and stabilization. The clinical assessment will gather information using written forms as a first step, including releases to speak with family members. The second step would be to invite the family along with the client in an effort to obtain a better understanding of existing medical conditions along with any past mental disorders. Abuse as a child or abuse as an adult will be determined. The clinician will evaluate if the client is portraying any signs due to alcoholism or a drug addictions. An example of one question her clin...
In this diverse society we are confronted everyday with so many ethical choices in provision of healthcare for individuals. It becomes very difficult to find a guideline that would include a border perspective which might include individual’s beliefs and preference across the world. Due to these controversies, the four principles in biomedical ethic which includes autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice help us understand and explain which medical practices are ethical and acceptable. These principles are not only used to protect the rights of a patient but also the physician from being violated.
Tarzian, A. J., & Force, A. C. C. U. T. (2013). Health care ethics consultation: An update on core competencies and emerging standards from the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities’ Core Competencies Update Task Force. The American Journal of Bioethics, 13(2),
Panza, C. & Potthast, A. (n.d.) “A snapshot of key ethical theories.” Retrieved from, http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/a-snapshot-of-key-ethical-theories.navId-323314.html?print=true on 04/21/2014
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Macklin R. (2003). Applying the Four Principles, Journal of Medical Ethics; 29: p.275-280 doi:10.1136/jme.29.5.275.retrieved from http:// jme.bmj.com/content/29/5/275.full
Ethics involves identifying, differentiating, and defending concepts of right and wrong, and what values humanity retains from ethical growth and development. The Williams Group for Ethics and Management developed an exercise, called the Ethics Awareness Inventory, which analyzes responses to a set of questions, and categorizes the results under four ethical perspectives: Character (or Virtue Ethics), Obligation (or Deontological Ethics), Results (or Utilitarianism), and Equity (or Relativism). After completion of the inventory, my ethical perspective was determined to be Obligation, or Deontological Ethics.
McGee, Glenn and Arthur L. Caplan. "Medical Ethics." Microsoft® Encarta® 98 Encyclopedia. © 1993-1997: Microsoft Corporation. CD-ROM.
This framework is widely used throughout hospitals and medical schools across the world. It is unique in its regard due to offering a broader sense of medical ethics, covering ethics outside the scope of clinical settings. (UKCEN) This is a major reason why it’s extremely useful when discussing future treatments and potential cures as its focus on biomedical ethics is exemplary. It is important to appreciate the difference between the terms “medical ethics” and “biomedical ethics”.
4. Unknown. Ethics. Santa Clara University Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. 29th March 2004. http://cseserv.engr.scu.edu/NQuinn/COEN288/EngrHandbook_Ethics.pdf
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS STATEMENT PART II IDENTIFICATION OF VALUE - PRIORITIZATION The health care industry is one industry that needs a great deal of ethical intelligence and tactfulness. Ethics matters a lot in health care as this involves saving the life of people, an act that requires detailed, accurate steps in an environment that seeks to make the patient a central part of treatment process and the physician, a trusted partner in administering the best possible care aimed at the wellbeing of the patient and with the consent of the patient. Ethical issues exist everywhere in the course of providing healthcare services and needs to be dealt with in the most tactful manner.