...Week 7 Ethical Dilemma Paper Jered Gordner Professor Cuzzone HUMN-232 Week 7 Ethical Dilemma Paper As with many industries today, the healthcare industry is fraught with ethically dilemmas one can be involved with on an almost ongoing, daily basis. Since there are so many different arms and hands in so many different cookie jars, it’s easy to get lost in all the ethical dilemmas that could amass before your very eyes. On the professional side of the equation you may run into the dilemma of having a child from humble beginnings, without the means to pay, become struck down with a disease undocumented and unlike anything that is currently on the books. Do you treat the child pro-bono or do you let them go untreated and more than likely die? On the insurance side (something I’ve personally run into) one of the men in a gay couple, who has been together for 30 years, is in the hospital and the other man needs to know the medication his partner is on so the pharmacy will release it to him. Since they are not legally married they do not have the same rights and access to information as a straight married couple. Do you go against HIPAA and release the information or do you withhold it because of the law? These two dilemmas are not uncommon in the health industry. Doctors and nurses come across patients with no insurance on a daily basis and more often than not, they are forced to turn them away untreated. This ethical decision can weigh heavily on their heads. I find this...
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...Students entering the field of speech-language pathology or audiology recognize the rigorous academic coursework required to complete the degree. They are aware of the time, effort and dedication it will take to become certified professionals. Clinical practicum requirements, internship placements and comprehensive exams are at the forefront of their concerns. Conversely, professional issues including ethics and workplace dilemmas seem to be the least of their worries. Beginning clinicians may enter the workforce assuming all professionals adhere to ethical standards. They may think "workplace dilemmas" are simply fabricated scenarios they will never encounter. Unfortunately, the dynamic and evolving scope of the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology can present unforeseen challenges in the workplace, especially for beginning clinicians. However, with the proper education and training, students can enter the workforce prepared to handle any conflict that may compromise their ethicality. In order to demonstrate how to resolve ethical dilemmas occurring in the workplace, two scenarios involving support personnel, prescription and misrepresentation will be discussed in further detail. The first scenario involves the administrator of an outpatient rehabilitation clinic. She is requiring a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) to supervise a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA). While supervising a session, the SLP notices the SLPA performing a diagnostic...
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...decisions big and small, also a set of shared values or principles that govern the way nurses interact with patients, a patient's family, and even other doctors and nurses. Nurses are dedicated to treating the person and easing suffering and this defines a nurse's ethical standpoint. From working with unbiased compassion to standing up for patients' rights, a nurse holds a wide range of responsibilities in addition to the actual physical work of caring for patients (Medi-Smart: Nursing Education Resources, 2011). The ethics simulation game is a learning tool designed to teach individuals how to make decisions between ethical challenges. In the first ethical simulation the ethical issue is how to best assure that the patient and her unborn child get appropriate and timely care with the stakeholders been the shareholders, the patient, the shift supervisor, the RN, the parents, and the unborn child. Before making these decisions of the best way to help Rachel one had to go through the four different lenses and steps of critical decision making. These lenses include the rights and responsibility lens, the results lens, the relationship lens, and the reputation lens. After thoroughly going through each lens, one was able to make decisions based on virtues, values, and morals (Ethics Game, 2007). As the shift supervisor the problem dealt with is how to best assure that the patient and her unborn child get appropriate and timely care (Ethics Game, 2007). The stakeholders are described...
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...Current Events Ethical Dilemma 1 Running Head: CURRENT EVENTS ETHICAL DILEMMA Current Events Ethical Dilemma Catherine Gilmartin Grand Canyon University: NRS 437V October 26, 2011 Current Events Ethical Dilemma 2 Introduction The prosecution has rested in trial of Michael Jackson’s physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who stands accused of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the death of Michael Jackson. Dr. Conrad Murray was hired by concert promoters to serve as Michael Jackson’s personal physician. He was paid $150,000 a month to ensure that Mr. Jackson was well enough to withstand the strenuous rehearsals and grueling schedule of his sold out comeback concerts. The doctor was with the pop star six nights a week, helping him sleep. Mr. Jackson died June 25, 2009 of an apparent overdose. The prosecutors in the case, David Walgren and Deborah Brazil, both Los Angeles deputy district attorneys who, in their opening argument, told jurors that "misplaced trust in the hands of Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life."The Los Angeles County coroner’s office determined that Michael Jackson died of acute propofol poisoning. Propofol is a drug that reduces anxiety and tension, and promotes relaxation and sleep or loss of consciousness. Propofol provides loss of awareness for short diagnostic tests and surgical procedures, sleep at the beginning of surgery, and supplement...
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...Personal Moral Compass As health care professionals, nurses are anticipated to foster a moral compass by which they navigate ethical dilemmas that may evolve in nursing practice. These dilemmas may present in every aspect of their practice. The worldview and philosophy of nursing is influenced by one’s personal, spiritual and cultural values. At times one’s personal values, world view and philosophy may contradict with each other and that will generate an ethical dilemma. The American Nurses’ Association (ANA) has adopted “The Code of Ethics” which is intended to provide standard guidelines that are essential to the ethical discharge of the nurses’ responsibilities. When facing ethical dilemma in nursing practice, nurses’ personal ethics in combination with the code of ethics enable them to make personal and social decision. This capability prompts them to act on suffering patient’s needs. In this essay, the writer will be discussing personal, cultural, and spiritual values contributing to nurses’ individual worldview and philosophy of nursing and the moral and ethical dilemma being faced in their profession. Values Contributing to Individual’s Worldview and Philosophy of Nursing My personal moral compass is contributed by various inspirations, passions and values. A person’s origin has a strong impact on their personal, spiritual, cultural values and beliefs. The author was born and raised in India in a Christian religious background. We have a culture of respecting...
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...profession in conduct and also it is a theory that analyses the differences between right and wrong. Nurses are not only expected to comply to their professional morals and values, but are also encouraged to comply to their own personal ethics as well. The code of ethics (ANA 2001) advises nurses on ethical and legal responsibility to their own patients, as well as the community in which they serve. In today's health care system nurses are faced with many ethical issues in their daily task and they have to make clear and logical ethical choices of their own. These ethical choices are generally inspired by ethical doctrines that include beneficence, confidentiality, autonomy, fidelity, veracity, and other (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2008, p53). Nursing is a noble profession and I enjoy most about being a nurse is simply caring, helping and nurturing people. In addition, I also thank God for giving me this opportunity to make a difference in someone's life, whether that is done by providing care, teaching, or even supporting a family. Personal, cultural and spiritual Values According to the International Council of Nurses (ICN), a nurse's primary responsibility is to attend their patients, and be able to respect the patient's customs, values, beliefs, and rights. In addition, nurses should choose to extend their education because they are held accountable for their own practice. Nurses should practice cooperating with other healthcare team members, but if they suspect a threat for patient's...
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...nurse, ethical dilemmas can arise at any moment. It is imperative that through proper education and training registered nurses have the ethical capacity and intelligence to work through these issues with compassion and integrity. Take into account he following case scenario; a 6-year-old child develops a high fever, vomiting, and convulsions at school. After seeking medical care, the diagnosis of meningitis is reached and the physician requests to start treatment from the child’s parents. The parents are divorced; the mother has primary custody but is not the biological parent. The mother is a Christian Scientist who insists that no medical treatment be initiated per her religious beliefs. The biological father resides in another state, but he insists that treatment be initiated and seeks independent consultation from another physician. Through ethical decision making with assistance from Uustal’s nine-step model, it is possible to identify the ethical dilemma presented, integrate the decision-making model to identify an ethical solution, and incorporate family dialogue to both parents of the child regarding the issue at hand. When an ethical decision must be made, one must first identify the ethical dilemma. "...An ethical dilemma is a common type of situation that involves two, or more, morally correct courses of action that cannot both be followed” (Purtilo, Ruth & Doherty, 2011, p. 57). Ethical dilemmas involve both ethical conflict and conduct. "An ethical dilemma occurs...
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...Running head: ETHICAL STUDY REVIEW 1 Ethical Study Review Trina Windfield Grand Canyon University: HLT-520: Legal and Ethical Principles in Health Care January 22, 2014 Running head: ETHICAL STUDY REVIEW 2 Ethical Study Review For the elderly, ethics deals with how they want to be treated and are allowed to make their own decisions. Family members who are caregivers on an ethical level have to always do what is right for the patient even when no one is looking. In this ethical study assignment, the patient is a 96-year-old male that has terminal liver cancer, admitted to the ICU with symptoms of confusion, underweight and underfed, along with bruises which are believed to be a part of the liver disorder. The daughter of the patient who is presumed to be the caregiver and a naturopathic physician insists that her father can be cured by her administering unknown substances which appear to put her father in pain. The daughter has insisted these are life-saving interventions. The healthcare staff is in need of some assistance on how to care for the patient due to their belief that the daughter is hastening the death of her father. The writer has been asked to assess the dimensions of the ethical dilemma that is at hand, discuss the issues that are involved and apply the ethical principles and the methods of ethical decision making. What are the Dimensions of the Ethical Dilemma? The healthcare staff has reached out for assistance in how to handle...
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...Introduction Patient was a 34 year old female admitted to the hospital for observation as an EMU patient on the Neuro step down unit. Patient reported that she had a tonic clonic seizure before coming to the hospital. During the three days she was in the hospital, she showed no apparent seizure activity. The nurse who was also assigned to this patient said she was pretty sure she was a pseudo seizure patient. When it came to looking at what drugs she could be given, the only drug she was not allergic to was Morphine. When doing assessments on the patient, she would always say that her pain was an 8-9 before pain medication and a 7/10 after pain medication. Every 4 hours the patient would put her call light on and complain of pain. However, the patient showed no signs of pain as she was doing her hair and putting on makeup to look good for her boyfriend who was coming to see her soon. With the patient requesting pain medications frequently, showing no apparent signs of pain or seizure activity and allergic to every type of medication makes me suspicious of the patient drug seeking. So the ethical dilemma is should the patient be given pain medication when they requests it every 4 hrs, when not appearing to be in pain? The three options that I was alternating between were medicating the patient as ordered when they request it, give the patient half the dose ordered when they request it, or delay the patient’s dose to every 6 hours or not give it at all. The moral principles...
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...Margaret Johnson BSHS/332 October 7, 2013 Bradley Leedy Workplace Ethical Dilemma This paper will present an argument of how the process of do not resuscitate (DNR) results in an ethical dilemma for workers in the healthcare field. In presenting the argument, this paper will also address the following three course learning objectives: 1) explain the legal rights of individuals as they interact with health care services, 2) analyze the monitoring systems that ensure human rights, legal aspects, and quality health care, and 3) analyze selected ethical and legal case studies that have promulgated precedent setting decisions. Even though the physician may believe CPR would be the appropriate decision, “many a deserving patient loses out on the opportunity for such treatment” as a result of an DNR order (Thomas, 2002, 412). Decisions about resuscitation have become a matter of concern and highly debatable issue because the legality of a patient’s right to request DNR. The order must be approved in advance by a written statements signed by a physician upon order of the patient or surrogate in cases which the patient cannot give consent. A DNR order must not confused with giving care, whereas, do not resuscitate does not mean do not give care. “It means a different kind of care that can best be achieved through end-of-life protocols and education” (Field, 2007, 294). The process causes ethical dilemmas for health care workers in several ways. For example, in cases which...
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...Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice Adetutu S. Toyin-oke Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice Under what circumstances is one allowed to break patient-nurse confidentiality? As a nurse one may think of a few personal situations where they had to break that confidentiality. Ethical framework such as the nightingale pledge and ethical principles stated in nursing textbooks were meant to provide guidelines on how to most appropriately treat people in the healthcare field; however, when ethical framework is applied to nursing practice, a nurse may run into many implications. Ethical implications What are the implications of a breach of confidentiality? Well, the most obvious consequence is that the patient will not be able to trust her nurse or maybe even all nurses in general. In Pamela G. Nathanson’s article, Betraying Trust or Providing Good Care? When is it okay to break confidentiality?, She depicts a story of a nurse who is in an ethical dilemma. This nurse promised two teenage patients “who [were] reluctant to enter into care that no matter what they tell her, she will not divulge any information to the patient's parents or to anyone else (Nathanson, 2000).” However one of these two patients tested positive for HPV. A physician advices this nurse “that not only should she inform Andrea's parents of her diagnosis, but that she should also inform the girls' school since it has become a ‘public health issue’ (Nathanson, 2000).” According to Nathanson, “If confidentiality...
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...Confounding Ethical Dilemmas All children are brought into this world and deserve to have an adult act in their best interest. There are several factors that influence the way that their caregiver makes decisions about the child’s education, religious teachings, and health care (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011). Religious beliefs can affect the decision-making process regarding the type of medical care that the parent is willing to let physicians perform (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011). An example of this are individuals that practice the Christian Science religion (New York Times, 2016). This religion teaches the parishioners that all illnesses are caused by fear, a disconnection from God, and mental factors (New York Times, 2016). Parents of children that practice Christian Science believe that when their child is ill that spiritual healing will cure the child (New York Times, 2016). The parents will have an expert spiritual healer from the church come to help them cope and figure out the mental roots of the illness (New York Times, 2016). The case of a child that has divorced parents that are not in agreement about medical treatment for a seriously ill child creates an ethical dilemma (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011). The dilemma that the physician faces is whether to withhold treatment per the mother’s request due to religious beliefs or provide treatment per the biological father’s request (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016). Health care professionals should override religious beliefs when...
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...Ethics is defined as moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior. Sensitivity to ethical issues should be necessary for any profession that holds public trust. Nursing holds a public trust and therefore we must be aware of ethical concerns when dealing with patients (Barry, 2002). Ethical dilemmas such as consent force nurses to decide on possible actions to take. By discussing the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence and applying the ethical theories I hope to make it clear how nurses justify their actions. My understanding of ethical accountability is that I am answerable to myself; I must always be truthful, fair and respectful and I believe I must treat others as I would like to be treated. Nurses faced with an ethical dilemma have to decide which possible action is the right action to take and how choice of this action over others is justified (Singleton and McLaren, 1995). During the module we have looked at various ethical models including Seedhouse’s Ethical Grid (1998) and Curtin’s Ethical Decision Making Model (1982) which provide guidance toward the resolution of clinical dilemmas; some of the aspects of these models will be evolved in the next section of this assignment. Rumbold (1999) insists that respect for a person’s autonomy is one of the crucial principles in nursing ethics and ethical models. Gillon (1986, pp.56) defines autonomy as “the capacity to think, decide, and act on the basis of such thought and decision...
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...Prevention (CDC) scramble to identify the pathogen and develop a vaccine. MEV-1 is presented to the audience as a pandemic. During a pandemic preserving the functionality of society is a priority (Gostin, 2008). Contagion raises a host of ethical dilemmas such as paternalism, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. The prospect of encountering a deadly pandemic such as that in Contagion, can create an overwhelming healthcare and community concern. The preparation for and response to an unusual turn of events of this magnitude requires goals that aim to benefit the community, as a whole. This involves an ethical viewpoint based on utilitarianism, with a primary focus on the good of the community, as opposed to the typical medical ethical view that focuses on the individual autonomy of patients. Ethics based on this notion of utility will most indeed pose a conflict between the community and the health of the individuals who make up that community. This paper will consider the moral issues from a public health viewpoint presented in the movie Contagion. The basis for determining how to address and contain the MEV-1 virus relies on a utilitarian view. The primary belief of those who have adopted the utilitarian position is that the most ethical action is the one that results in the greatest good for the greatest number; the most...
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...afford to pay the full amount. Patient is most likely would get some coverage from Medicare, however all cost may not be fully covered. Consulting with family about cost and medical procedure is essential with such critical situation. On the other hand, his use of services is limiting access for other patients by using most of sources (money, time, medical products). Mr.Waston’s has used about 10% of drug supply; as the procedure and treatment has limited source and distribution, it is essential for caregivers to use there sources wisely and dispense the drug supply throughout 163 patients. Providing medical care for one significant patient can initiate ethical dilemma. In a situation where medical cost is tremendously expensive to treat an individual, sharing the source is important. As individual illness get worse as there age, it might have impacted in the decisions. Indeed, closer attention is needed to treat such illness. Putting in to consideration and analyzing the amount of time, energy, and money that needs to spend in one patient is critical. Looking for alternative treatment that are cost effective is important in such situation. Distributing medical budget equal with all patient is also important. Hospital has the right to say “time out” when the care givers has provided all the possible treatments and methods to treat patient, if the physicians does not see any progress or result from the treatments that was provided, if patient has not shown any sort of improvement...
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