Kant's Ethical Theory

The two ethical dilemmas that stick out to me in the case are patient autonomy, and distributive justice. Patient autonomy is the patient’s right to make decisions about their care, including whether to accept or decline treatment (Taylor, 2014). Because the patient did not fully understand the information relayed in the consent form or the procedure, her patient autonomy may have been violated. This also may mean the consent form may not be valid. A signed consent form from a patient affords the hospital with an assumed duty to care for that patient (as cited Taylor, 2014). And the patient has given the medical professional permission to provide treatment. Therefore, it is important that the patient fully understands and can communicate that understanding when consenting to

On the other hand, with the baby girl’s case, the mother ultimately chose assisted suicide as she wished to stop nourishment and refused permission for surgery. The issue here violates the Baby Doe Law, which regardless of the parents’ wishes, sets specific guidelines for treatment of disabled newborns. Since the baby is not competent due to her age, the issue of informed consent is hard to deal with. This also deals with the issue of deciding for others because the mother must give informed consent and decide based off the well-being of her baby. This is another case of vulnerable population because the patient is a ten-month-old baby, and disabled as well. This means the child must not be neglected and be properly spoken for because she cannot speak for herself. Both cases have issues that overlap with each other and need to be broken down more to be understood properly.

Ethically, it is essential to obtain a patient's consent before treatment, and to keep his or her information confidential to the extent of the patient's wishes (Beauchamp and Childress 2009). All adults who have the capacity to understand what a medical professional is proposing to do to him or her should have the ability to consent or refuse the proposed treatment. This is because as adults of adequate understanding, we have autonomy over our own bodies, as they are our most intimate possessions. We live in our bodies, and are with them every day, all the time, and have more say than anyone else over what happens to them, as long as we have the

Everything discussed between a doctor and patient has to be confidential. This means whatever the patient tells the GP, the GP is then not allowed to go and discuss this with other people. If a GP was to break this right then they are disrespecting the rights of the patient and there could be consequences for the GP. However sometimes it is difficult for a GP to keep that confidentiality if he thinks the patient is in any danger, for example a GP has been told in confidence by a vulnerable elderly women that her carer has hit her, the GP would either try and persuade his patient to tell someone about the incident or he could contact social services to make a safeguarding referral. Doctors should respect the patients wishes and keep the confidentiality

In any medical setting, it is essential to respect the patients’ autonomy. Any competent patient has the right to make decisions regarding his or her health. However, the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence also need to be considered. Respecting the patients’ autonomy does not entail a one-size-fits-all approach to truth-telling. Unfettered truthfulness or “truth-dumping” may not be in the patient’s best interest. Moreover, some cultures do not subscribe to the individualistic principle of patient autonomy and family members are significantly involved in the patient’s decision-making.

The right for consent and autonomy of the patient conflicted with the decision of the medical team resulting to an ethical dilemma in this case. An informed consent can be accomplished through communication, implicit or explicit, or a signed consent (Taylor, 2013). The individual must be competent, which means capable of understanding, retaining, using and weighing information to communicate decision with others, in order for the consent to be valid (Taylor, 2013). In addition, the consent should be taken without any medical administration, or distress that can compromise the patient’s competency. The result of an individual or team that committed non-consensual act can be charged with battery, or assault (Taylor, 2013). According to the code of ethics, the health care teams have an obligation to honor the patient’s decision to withdraw (Lachman, 2015). The medical team ignored the withdrawal of the patient concerning the surgery and continues to proceed with the operation, which is a breach from the patient’s consent. If the patient’s rejection is discarded, it also violates the patient’s autonomy, which is the capacity to act freely with decision and independently (Purtilo, 2013). According to the code of ethics, “patients have the moral and legal right to determine what will be done with and to their person,”

Questions about truth and untruth in reality infest all human correspondence. They are brought up in families, clubs, work places, houses of worship, and even within healthcare. Honesty is very important to patients. Integrity of a healthcare professional is also very important to doctors and all healthcare professionals and jobs could be lost if doctors deceive and omit information to patients under any circumstance (Drane, n.d.). Regardless of any situation, at no time should a healthcare professional use deceit or dishonesty when caring for a

This case study is a prime example of a physician abusing his power. To take advantage of a patient displays a lack of ethical and moral values. The case provided involves a physician that is the defendant and the plaintiff who was his patient a 51 year old woman. The plaintiff stated having marital problems early on in treatment, and was also seeking help for problems with communication, family issues and codependency. It was up to this physician to provide her with the care she needed, but instead he carried out a relationship with the patient causing her more emotional anguish.

The patient and physician relationship is must be stander on trusting and the physicians’ ethical must be giving rise to place patients’ privet rather than own self-interest and other people .

Every person has their own set of different morals and values. People all think in a different way and that is what makes life beautiful. Everyone may choose a solution to an ethical dilemma in a unique way. Doctors don’t have as much freedom in regard to these problems. They have a set of rules that they need to follow when it comes to ethics. Doctors should not be forced to make ethical decisions based on a handbook. Solutions to moral dilemmas are subjective and depends upon both the practitioner and patient’s views.

As a doctor, to prepare myself to take on this case I would have to process a substantial amount of information and use my best judgment to conceive what the best plan of action regarding this case should be. Reviewing the four key principles in medical ethics: nonmaleficience, beneficence, respect for autonomy, and justice, would prove to be very helpful. After reviewing and consulting with my peers I would most likely conclude that the patient is the one receiving the service and is to be put first above all other factors contributing to the situation.

Telling the truth is something that comes up for the majority of us in childhood. It is considered impolite to lie and when a lie was told, or you were untruthful, it was often considered a reflection of your parents’ moral attitudes. Unfortunately, we all seem to have been taught differently the exact nature of a truth or lie and the right or wrong way to use that information. In To Lie or Not to Lie? – The Doctor’s Dilemma (2007), the topic of truth versus lies by doctors specifically, is discussed. While I believe it is important for doctors to be truthful in their dealings with patients, the 5 W’s need to be explored: what and to whom is truth, how and when

Individuals of all profession depend on learning from others to attain abilities and knowledge necessary to practice their profession. Doctors are vital as they treat our illness and save lives every day. I am grateful for the ones that has devoted their lives to aid others .What about what doctors will not tell you. Ted Talk by Dr.Wen is an eye opener about what your doctor wont’ disclose and paint a different picture of a health care provider. Doctors should release medical information to their patients. Doctors need to be transparent about their medical approaches to treating specific illness, prevents misdiagnosing a patient and introducing care that is more preventive.

Consent “is the voluntary agreement by a person who possess sufficient mental capacity to make an intelligent choice to allow a medical procedure and or treatment proposed by another to be performed on himself or herself” (Pozgar, 2016 p.332). The ethical and legal issues involved in this case are as follows:

In this case the patient is more knowledgeable then the healthcare professional. Only the person themselves know what illnesses and problems their body has. If the patient has private life cover, then may decide to give wrong information to lower their monthly premiums.