Ethical Systems in Healthcare Ethical Issues in Healthcare “If you don’t have integrity, you have nothing. You can’t buy it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you are not a moral and ethical person, you really have nothing”. –Henry Kravis - The American healthcare system delivers
This case study has highlighted the fact that there are many considerations to take into account – there is no one answer. However, it also means that as health practioners, it is vital that we are aware of the principles around moral values and how these impact on, not only the patient, but ourselves. The ethical dilemmas that are presented on a daily basis affect not only the patient, but all those involved in the care – family, doctors, nurses, care home managers, social workers and, because of the many changes in research and modern medicine, the society in general.
Even though this occurrence happened almost 70 years ago, the prevalent themes still exist today. The allure of pharmaceutical money and the use of drugs on patients, for instance, sway some doctors, even when they are unnecessary or, worse, harmful (Koch 1). Reading about Lacks, it is clearly recognizable how necessary it is to have a moral compass in a field that requires utter respect towards
Critically evaluate medical ethics and legal issues Introduction Medical ethics and legal issues have been a key topic in medical field for many years now. It is important for medical professionals to understand the importance of the way we care for patients, it is therefore important to be knowledgeable and aware of the medical ethics and legal issues that govern good patient care. Health care professionals must make decisions based on ethical and legal issues to performance their regular duties. However, Medical ethics is not only about avoiding harm to patients. It is rather a norms, values and principles (Ethical theories 2015). Therefore norms, values and principles are intended to govern medical ethical conduct. Ethics is defined as “a standard of behaviour and a concept of right and wrong beyond what the legal consideration is in any given situation”. In another words medical ethics is a discipline that used to handle moral problems coming out the care of patients. Law is another important discipline that often comes together with medical ethics. Law defined as a “rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority”. Government imply law to keep the society running smoothly and to control behaviour that could threaten public safety. Medical professionals have to often prioritise these terms before making any clinical decision. The following findings will constructively emphasise on medical ethics, its
In 2013, Swift stated “a clear majority of Americans (58%) say the drug should be legalized” (1). Within the past three years this number has increased. The “Ethics of Care” is related to this concept because it has to do with taking a look at what is right and wrong. This system also takes a look at equality within all.
An Ethical Dilemma of Tube Feeding There are times that self-determination has opposition with the values and beliefs of health care providers. The five step ethical decision making model is in place for patients that are unable to make their own health care decisions due to incompetency; paternalism is not the method used anymore. “In relation to health care, paternalism manifests itself in the making of decisions on behalf of patients without their full consent or knowledge. (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2008). Value systems, which includes a patients and family morals, play a factor in ethical decision making.
Nurses have an ethical and professional responsibility to advocate for patient autonomy when patients are cognitively competent and to protect their well-being when they are deemed incapacitated. These are necessary professional roles concerning the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and respect for others. Virtue ethics is a form of deontology that adheres to the philosophy that humans have a duty (obligation) to themselves and others; moreover, to adhere to the ethical principles and perform virtuous actions and avoid vice. These cardinal virtues include wisdom, courage, temperance, justice, fortitude, generosity, self-respect, good-temper, and sincerity (Guido, 2001, pp. 33–38). Additionally, patients have the right to patient-centered care, privacy, be free from discrimination (culturally competent care), and prompt complaint resolution. It is imperative that nurses be familiar with the Code of Ethics for Nurses, along with ethical principles and employ these as guidelines for professional competence both inside and outside the areas of practice.
On the topic of Atul Gawande’s novel Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, an ongoing issue has brought into question what we should do with the elderly and ill that are in need of care. On the one hand, some argue that we should put them in nursing homes and help them seek treatment for their problems because they can no longer take care of themselves. From this perspective, if not taken care of properly, the elderly have a greater chance of being injured. On the other hand, however, others argue that we should allow the elderly to live on their own as long as they maintain a healthy lifestyle. Atul Gawande, one of this view’s main proponents, urges us to realize that no one is immortal and cannot outrun death, but the journey
Summary The concepts of dignity, diversity, and ethics are interspersed within health care because it is a field that revolves around the care of humans. On the other hand, it is also a field in which humans collaboratively take care of humans; and with that comes human error, bias, and imperfection. For example, the provision of “excellent” care to patients is the expected outcome; however, the definition of this “excellence” can be interpreted differently based on individual or institutional beliefs. Therefore, the key in the delivery of excellent patient care is the ability for each individual to self-reflect and learn through each and every experience what it truly takes to preserve the “self-worth” and needs of every human being.
With the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act; the role of the Federal government has taken a strong stance on ensuring that every American has health care coverage. The delivery of health care and public policy-making consists of several structures which directs the implementation of medical treatment and it's fairness. But what about the effects of Bio-ethical issues in the delivery of health care? Health care administrators are constantly faced with these type ethical issues in the medical setting; who gets the best medication available, how will it be divided? What is done about physicians not performing ethically? Patient's who are terminally ill, seek care from physicians whom they trust and believe. " The ethics of 'principlism' is common, wherein there are four guiding principles: justice, autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence (Bioethicsorgau, 2016)." In conclusion, there is an absolute must that there be policies and laws in place to ensure that health care is delivered appropriately and in all fairness without
Additionally, they help provide the moral courage to face tough decisions and difficult situations encountered when caring for patients in healthcare. Having an established core message of nursing aids every member of the profession in understanding the importance of values, morals, and ethics in the delivery of holistic nursing care. Thankfully, the nursing profession is one of the most unique disciplines within healthcare, and the value that nurses place on patient advocacy illustrates how dynamic the relationship between a patient and their nurse can be. Ethics is an essential component of nursing care, and is embedded in the profession’s fundamental makeup, in nurses’ character, and how they deliver care. It is important for nurses practicing in today’s challenging healthcare settings to understand, value, and align their practice with fundamentals established by our
As health care provider we are bounded to medical ethic, the four principles of medical ethics are beneficence, no maleficence, justice and respect for autonomy. “However, in the actual situation, we must balance the demands of these principles by determining which carries more weight in the particular case” (McCormick, 2013). In “the Use of Force” story, the doctor came to a patient home with an intention of treating the patient, with knowledge that he saw some cases of diphtheria that is not known in many people in their town. As I analyze the doctor situation the four principle of medical ethic has been weigh based on the benefit it will provide the patient health.
Using this theory to reflect upon the incident, Jesse’s lack of consideration for personal boundaries and obtuse behavior could be seen as a lack of virtue. Being that the important component of the incident is Jesse’s moral character and not the action its self. While I appreciate that this theory coincides more with my personal beliefs, I am only speculating as to Jesse’s virtue in relation to my own. This encourages me to consider that people will value virtues differently, what is morally important will differ from person to person. Therefore perhaps using virtue-based ethical theory is not an objective way to view the incident. However, I feel as though what I have learnt in relation to this theory will be vital going forward in my nursing career as virtuous conduct coincides with the caring nature behind the idea of nursing and promotion of human wellbeing (Begley,
The Ethics of Drug Use and Drug Abuse For any professional working in the substance abuse treatment field, they will very likely come across situations and be presented with dilemmas relating to personal beliefs, judgments, and values. Drug or substance use and abuse have been a controversial and heated topic around the world for centuries. Drug abuse, in a way, is a facet of human culture that has been present for a great deal of human history in general. Every culture handles the issue of drug abuse differently. The history of how a society views persons with addictions is intermeshed with emotion, misperceptions, and prejudice that directly affects the care of drug abusers. This is a kind of awareness that drug users and those who provide drug treatment or rehabilitation should have. They may be susceptible to treating patients different because of their own personal views or because of the culturally normative views of that particular society. Just like teenagers may be automatically considered dangerous or irresponsible, it is fairly normative in a health care setting for a patient to be perceived negatively just because that person is a known drug user. Because of the highly charged emotional nature of the substance abuse treatment field, providers should possess the tools to explore ethical dilemmas objectively. By doing so, and by examining their own reactions to the situation, providers can proceed with the most ethical course of action. Ethical practice is
The article under review is called, “The Philosopher in the Clinic”, authored by Daniel N. Robinson, who is associated with Georgetown University, Washington DC. This article is a review in itself, of K. W. M. Fulford’s thesis, “Moral Theory & Medical Practice”, published by the Cambridge University Press at Cambridge, in 1989.