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Beneficence Justice Autonomy

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Beneficence
Beneficence refers to actions that promote the wellbeing of others. In the medical context, this means taking actions that serve the best interests of patients. Social care professionals have a duty to act in an individual’s best interest at all times. This can involve balancing the benefits of medical treatment against the risks and costs. Health care professionals quite often have to weigh up arguments over cost, the effectiveness of treatment and the benefit that patients gain from the proposed course of action

Justice
All individuals should have equal access to medical treatment and be fully aware of their legal rights. Practitioners have to make sure that relevant legislation is put into practice. The Children Act 1989, for instance, states that local authorities must act in the ‘best interests’ of all children, and that each child has a fundamental right to housing, health care and education.

Autonomy
Care should be person-centred, meaning that care is focused on the individual to ensure that independence and autonomy are promoted. When planning support the social care practitioner should use a variety of different methods to collect information about an individual’s unique qualities, abilities, interests and preferences as well as their needs. This means asking the individual what support or service they would like to meet their needs. The social care worker should not make any decisions or start delivering a service without discussion and consultation with the individual involved.

Non-maleficence
Non-harming or inflicting the least harm possible to reach a beneficial outcome. Harm and its effects are considerations and part of the ethical decision-making process in the NICU. Short-term and long-term harm, though unintentional, often accompany life-saving treatment in the NICU.

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