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The Duty Of Care Of Beneficence

Decent Essays

The duty of care of beneficence which involves doing good, showing compassion, demonstrating kindness and helping others (Pozgar, 2005) suggests that healthcare professionals are morally obliged to provide care that will benefit the patients (Beauchamp and Childress, 2009). Also, doing good requires knowledge of the belief, values, culture and preferences of the patient (Pozgar, 2005). Hence, in the case of Miss KK, the healthcare professionals are obliged to provide care that will benefit her. However, responding to the obligation to do good and provide beneficial care means acting in a paternalistic manner which therefore denies the patient of their autonomy (Yeo, Moorhouse and Kahn, 2010). Notwithstanding, Gillet (2008) and Guido (2010) opines that autonomy should take priority when providing care. Furthermore, Richmond et al. (2012) asserts that no treatment should be forced on a patient irrespective of the benefit. However, refusal of Miss KK to receive the surgical intervention could lead to her death. Hence, there should be a pursuit to strike a balance between patients’ autonomous right and the beneficent intention of the healthcare practitioners (Baumrucker et al, 2008; Niebro et al, 2008). Additionally, Macciocchi (2009) suggests that the potential health risks must be measured against the benefits of care and the patient must be an informed and volunteered participant in the decision-making process in regards to care rendered (Rancich et al, 2005). Also, the

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