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Choose an ethical dilemma in health care to write about that is addressed in Chapter 2 of your textbook. If you want to write about a different ethical dilemma, check with your instructor first. Your initial entry should be 500 to 750 words.
Although you can reference the textbook as a source for background, include at least one scholarly reference and one recent media story and link within the past two years that is related to your topic.
By Day 4, answer the following questions and use the following headings in your initial entry:
Define the ethical dilemma you have chosen.
What are the ethical principles to consider?
What are the legal implications of your ethical dilemma?
Where do you stand on the ethical dilemma? Why?
Define the Ethical Dilemma I have Chosen:
One ethical dilemma in healthcare that is addressed in Chapter 2 of my textbook is that of end-of-life decision-making. This can be a particularly challenging and emotionally charged situation for both the patient and their family. As the patient’s life comes to an end, doctors and other medical personnel must decide whether or not to pursue aggressive treatments and interventions, which may ultimately prolong suffering for the patient. In some cases, these treatments may not even improve the quality of life for the patient, but rather add excessive financial burdens on them or their family.
What are The Ethical Principles To Consider?
The ethical principles to consider when making this difficult decision include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and respect for persons. Autonomy pertains to respecting a person’s right to make decisions about their own health care without interference from others. Beneficence refers to taking actions with an intention of doing good or promoting well-being while nonmaleficence requires avoiding harm whenever possible (McLaughlin & Kaluzny 2018). Justice implies that similar situations should be treated equally while respect for persons includes considering individual desires related to their specific circumstances (McLaughlin & Kaluzny 2018).
What are The Legal Implications Of My Ethical Dilemma?
There are several legal implications associated with end-of-life decision making including Advance Directives such as Durable Power of Attorney For Health Care (DPOAHC) documents which allow patients to appoint someone else who will make healthcare decisions on their behalf in case they are unable do so themselves (NPR 2019). Furthermore, there are also laws protecting physicians from liability in case they limit treatments based on what they believe is best for their patients according to professional standards (NPR 2019). Finally there is also legislation protecting religious organizations from offering certain types of end–of–life care due to religious beliefs (McLaughlin & Kaluzny 2018).
Where Do I Stand On The Ethical Dilemma? Why?
I believe that patient autonomy should come first when making any kind of medical decisions regarding end -of -life care; however it should always be done with sensitivity towards cultural values as well as consideration given towards potential risks versus benefits associated with treatment options available. Patients absolutely have a right to make informed choices about course of action related to medical interventions at the end stage if they possess capacity do so; nevertheless if they lack capacity then any decisions made by substitute decision makers should always reflect what was previously expressed or indicated by wishes previously expressed by those individuals before losing capacity(Corley et al.,2018). Thus I believe it is necessary take into account all legal aspects outcomes along with all ethical considerations such as personal beliefs societal norms psychological effects impact before coming up with anything definitive conclusion regarding final choice whatever ones opinion might be in regard matter being discussed here .
References:
Corley S., Smith A., Whitehouse R., Selman L., Jones C., Williams B.(2018) Capacity assessments at End‐of‐Life,’ Nursing Ethics 25(7): 1087–1099 doi: 10.1177/0969733018764253
McLaughlin JP ,Kaluzny AD , Eds.(2018) Health Care USA Understanding Its Organization And Delivery Ninth edition Burlington MA Jones & Bartlett Learning LLC
NPR.(2019 July 29), ‘Lawmakers Pass Bill On Assisted Suicide Doctors Liability Protections.’ https://www.wburorg/commonhealth/2019/0729/742246AssistedSuicideBillSignedByGovernor