...The principle of autonomy is the capacity to have the say-so about your own well-being, “the capacity to act on your decisions freely and independently,” (Bueauchamp & Childress 2008). The principle of autonomy holds that a patient has the right to make his or her own decision regarding treatment — including the right to refuse treatment — without being coerced by medical staff or family members. The principle of autonomy does not guarantee a person the right to do harm to oneself, due to the fact that even though the individual has the rational choice to make decisions in the best interest of his or her well-being, doing something harmful to oneself is not in the interest of the individual's well-being, and this harmful act tends to affect others in a negative fashion. An example of this concept, would be an individual severely lacerating his or her face with a razor, this situation will cause a great deal of money to have to be spent in relation to their medical treatment, even if it is spent by their health insurance company, due to the fact that the premiums of other individuals will go up due to excessive usage of insurance coverage. In addition, family members will also tend to suffer emotionally from an individual's self-mutilating actions. Time, effort, and medical supplies, will be used by healthcare professionals in response to this harmful act as well, so a harmful act to oneself, is also harmful to society at large. It is quite clear that an individual has no right...
Words: 393 - Pages: 2
...Autonomy in Medicine Finneaus Parker National University February 8, 2013 Dr. Schlitz Autonomy is the “personal rule of the self that is free from both controlling interferences by others and from personal limitations that prevent meaningful choice” (Pantilat, 2008). Autonomous individuals act intentionally, with understanding, and without controlling influences. Respect for autonomy is one of the fundamental guidelines of clinical ethics. Autonomy in medicine is not simply allowing patients to make their own decisions. Physicians have an obligation to create the conditions necessary for autonomous choice in others. For a physician, respect for autonomy includes respecting an individual’s right to self-determination as well as creating the conditions necessary for autonomous choice. Individuals come to doctors for guidance in making choices because they do not have the necessary background or information for making informed choices. Physicians educate patients so that they understand the situation adequately. They calm emotions and address fears that interfere with a patient’s ability to make decisions. They counsel patients when their choices seem to be disruptive to health and well-being. Respect for autonomy also includes confidentiality, seeking consent for medical treatment and procedures, disclosing information about their medical condition to patients, and maintaining privacy. Some of the most common and difficult ethical issues to navigate arise when the patient’s...
Words: 1125 - Pages: 5
...According to Clinical Ethics network, “Respect for autonomy is one of the fundamental guidelines of clinical ethics. Autonomy in medicine is not simply allowing patients to make their own decisions. Physicians have an obligation to create the conditions necessary for autonomous choice in others. For a physician, respect for autonomy includes respecting an individual’s right to self-determination as well as creating the conditions necessary for autonomous choice. Beneficence is action that is done for the benefit of others. Beneficent actions can be taken to help prevent or remove harms or to simply improve the situation of others” (University of California Regents School of Medicine, 2015). Thinking as a practitioner, in my opinion...
Words: 658 - Pages: 3
...In the context of end-of-life issues and decisions, autonomy and beneficence are concepts which are applicable to ethical principles concerned with judicial medical practices. The roles of autonomy in medical care is an individual’s right to be self-governing – independent to make their own decisions (DeSpelder & Strickland, 2015, p.214). However, personal autonomy can be challenged within the limitation of societal welfare, but also effected by the reciprocated actions of others imposing their autonomy. Thereby forcing our self-direction to concede, which in turn modifies our decisions thus altering actions. Furthermore, free will can be impacted by our individual morals or ethics, such as making decisions based on a respect or consideration...
Words: 345 - Pages: 2
...PATIENT AUTONOMY Respecting patient autonomy is dominant to nondirective counseling. It has no requirement to value-neutrality. The counselor’s values are expressed to undermine patients’ ability to make decisions for them. Autonomy respect in genetic counseling requires no greater circumspection about values than in any other counseling in health care (Robert Wachbroit & David Wasserman, 1995). Value neutrality is argued to be neither possible nor desirable but arises from conceptions of fewer objectives and less suitable values for public discourse. Nondirectiveness requires the counselor to adopt the most effective methods in ensuring that the choices of the patients about genetic testing are well informed and voluntary. Patients should be made to understand and appropriately respond to the results of genetic tests and diagnoses. The nondirective approach stipulates that the appropriate response is the one from the patient herself as long as it results from the fact that she understands the facts and reflects her values truly. Nondirective genetic counseling ensures that patients are well aware of genetic risks and their freedom of choosing whether or not to go for testing and ways of responding to positive test results. This is the respect for patient autonomy. On the contrary, value neutrality...
Words: 1180 - Pages: 5
...antibiotics, but he refused. The choice: send him back to the street, a possible violation of the “First do no harm” oath, or seek a court order declaring the man incapable of making decisions for himself, essentially forcing him into the doctors’ care. The Ethical Dilemma in the Case The moral values at stake are the principles of autonomy as well as, the ethics of protecting the patient and doing no harm. The principle of autonomy stems from the ethics of respects for persons. Robert M. Veatch, the author of The Basics of Bioethics, explains that the ethics of respect for persons stresses that “humans deserve respect independent of the consequences of actions” (p 62). Treating individuals with autonomy, and protecting people with diminished autonomy are the two main principles that underlie the ethics of respect for persons (The Belmont Report, 1979). Autonomy is defined as “a psychological state of an individual who is capable of being self-determining or self-legislating” (Veatch, 2011, p 81). In this case the concept of autonomy relates to the patients capability of choosing to accept or deny any medical treatment. Why is autonomy at stake? The case presents the question on whether the doctors should respect the patient’s decision to refuse care, or force him into their care. By forcing him into their care, the principle of...
Words: 1970 - Pages: 8
...a sister, Penelope that is 10 weeks pregnant and is worried that her fetus may have the genetic problem. However, there is a one in four chance that a female will inherit the gene and become a carrier. Helen is aware her sister is pregnant and she feels if she tells her sister of her and her son’s diagnosis, Penelope would likely terminate the baby. Helen speaks to her medical providers and decides she wants the results to remain confidential and not be disclosed to her sister. Although it might seem morally right for Helen to share her medical information with her sister, she is not obligated to share her carrier status because she is entitled to that information. In bioethics, respect for patient autonomy is an essential requirement when considering the principle of autonomy, in that “...persons should be allowed to exercise their capacity for self-determination” (Vaughn, 71). Being an autonomous adult, Helen has the right to privacy, in which she...
Words: 801 - Pages: 4
...rightness or wrongness of particular actions * Involves questions of motives or intent Principles * A principles may be defined as a basic truth or general law or doctrine that is used as a basis of reasoning or a guide to action or behavior. Principlism * The Belmont report * Beauchamp and childress’ text The Georgetown mantra * The principles Beneficence * Doing the best of someone well being * It’s going to benefit the patient the some way * An obligations to help others further their important and legitimate interests * Paternalism- consists in the judgment that beneficence trumps autonomy Non-maleficence * Do no harm * We need to make sure were not doing harm to the patients, make the patient understand what treatment they are getting. That the harm is out weighted for benefits. * Respect for autonomy * Respect the choice of the patients, and protect the people who can’t make choices themselves Justice * We need to solve the end results and providing the patient with justice Types of paternalism * Weak paternalism * Where an agent intervenes on ground of beneficence to prevent substantially nonautonomous conduct * Strong Paternalism * Where an agent intervenes on ground of beneficence to prevent substantially autonomous conduct...
Words: 462 - Pages: 2
...burdens of therapy and the medical uncertainty that exists are necessary to provide patients and families with the best opportunity to make informed decisions. We know that honest direct communication is most important for patients and families faced to make life determining decisions. These health care workers must communicate within the medical ethics of their profession. Medical ethics is based on a four prima facie moral principles and attention to these principles' scope of application. The four prima facie principles are respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. “Prima facie,” a term introduced by the English philosopher W D Ross, means that the principle is binding unless it conflicts with another moral principle - if it does we have to choose between them.2 Respect for autonomy is the moral obligation to respect the autonomy of others in so far as such respect is compatible with equal respect for the autonomy of all potentially affected....
Words: 1210 - Pages: 5
...the greatest advances in medicine have been achieved by biomedical research. Biomedical researchers have been able to find cures or eliminate diseases, create vaccines, and medicines that heave cure and protected the health of millions of people. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is the federal Government’s primary agency for advancing knowledge in the biomedical and behavior sciences in order to understand and treat human disease. In the past, research process often involved many unethical practices where the research participants lacked adequate protection. To protect human research participants from undo harm, biomedical researchers must follow the four basic ethical principles on which standards of ethical research are based: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Such ethical requirements on biomedical research are found in documents such as the Declaration of Helsinki or the Belmont Report. The four principles and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are the principal regulations and ethical protocols when conducted human research. In the United States, the National Institute of Health (NIH) is the primary agency responsible in enforcing ethic in human research but the IRBs falls within the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In other countries, different names might be used, such as research ethics committees or ethics review committees. Where ever human research is conducted, either within the US regulations or internationally...
Words: 2300 - Pages: 10
...expressive traits, stylistic traits, pathological trends, and factorial clusters. Characters and attitudes may also be used as units of study, but these present some complications. Character involves the judgment of moral rights and wrongs. Attitudes, or a disposition to an object or toward an object of value, involve an emotional response from a very narrow range of stimuli towards an object of value. It can be evaluated, but a trait cannot be evaluated because it naturally exists within the individual. Thus, attitude is difficult to work with as a unit of measurement. He also discussed about Functional Autonomy which represents the present “go” if interests and tendencies that initiates and sustains current behavior. It has two types, the preservative functional autonomy and propionate functional autonomy. Although both types are essential to motivation, proportionate functional autonomy is more important because of its open system, and the personality is led to achieve progressively higher levels of behavior. The maturity of personality is indicated by...
Words: 396 - Pages: 2
...Dementia is a chronic lifelong condition that causes memory loss, communication problems, incontinence and neglect of personal hygiene (Prime, 1994 p, 301). Mr Moses neglect of his personal hygiene was profound due to his incontinence condition Dignity mean “Being treated like I was somebody” (Help the Aged, 2001).Relating dignity in the care Mr Moses, dignity will be define as care given to Mr Moses that will uphold, promote and not degrade his self respect despite his present situation (being wet with urine and smell of faeces), frail or his age (SCIE, 2006). Mr Moses despite his present circumstance should feel value before, during and after his care (Nursing Standard, 2007). The concept of dignity has to do with privacy, respect, autonomy, identity and self worth thereby making life worth living for them (SCIE, 2006). However, each patient needs is unique, the level of these concept will varies on individual service user, such as the privacy that other service user need will be different from what Mr Moses require at the time of His care. When dignity is not present during his care, Mr Moses will feel devalued, lacking control, comfort and feel embarrass and ashamed (RCN, 2008). Things that emerged in my observation for Mr Moses to be provided with care in a dignified way involves, delivery Mr Moses personal care in a way that maintain his dignity, having support from team members and an up to date training in delivering care, and supportive ward environment (NHS evidence...
Words: 1007 - Pages: 5
...Contents: Topic Page Number Glossary Of Terms 1 Introduction 2 Aspect Of Care 3 The DNACPR Policy 4 Ethics 7 Patients Consent 9 Withholding Information 14 Informed Choice 17 Forcing Information Upon Patients 20 The Nurses Role 22 Conclusion 25 References 26 Appendix 27 Glossary of terms CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. DNACPR: Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. NMC: Nursing & Midwifery Council. GMC: General Medical Council. BMA: British Medical Association. GP: General Practitioner Introduction The Aim of this module is to encourage me to enhance my personal and professional skills, to increase the efficacy of patient care and interaction. Also to make me more aware of the legal, professional and ethical implications of practice. The module allowed me to further develop my knowledge of these topics: Ethics & Accountability, Legal Aspects of Practice, finally Accountability & Professional Practice. I was then asked to submit an essay of 4500 words based on the following: “Critically analyse an aspect of care from your practice setting that encompasses the ethical, professional & legal role of the nurse. Issues of accountability should be incorporated into this essay”. Aspect of care The aspect of care I have chosen to include in my essay is the “Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR)” Adult Policy...
Words: 5245 - Pages: 21
...Tuskegee Syphilis Study Dr. Joseph Costa, D.H.Sc, PA-C Health Policy and Management MPH 525 Jessie McCarty April 2013 Table of Contents Chapter Page 1. Tuskegee Syphilis Study 2 2. Tuskegee Basics 3 3. What Went Wrong? 4 Informed Consent 4 Vulnerable Populations 4 Medical Profession Pursued 5 4. Personal Opinion 7 5. Basics of Research 8 Informed Consent 8 Individual Autonomy 9 Beneficence 9 6. Current Policies 11 Policies 11 Exceptions 11 7. Problems with Waving Consent 13 Flexibility 13 Vulnerable Populations 13 Ethical Dilemmas 14 8. Conclusion 16 Chapter 1 Tuskegee Syphilis Study Throughout the years, numerous research studies have taken place. In the United States, on a daily basis thousands of research studies are being conducted. Some of these studies will greatly influence science, while others will make little impact. Historically, some studies have been remembered not for the results, but for ethical dilemmas surrounding the study. The Tuskegee syphilis study is a prime example of a study which made many people aware of the ethical problems surrounding research. The Tuskegee syphilis study made the government begin to analyze how research was performed in the country, and the study opened many eyes to what changes needed to be made. Analyzing the Tuskegee syphilis study allows for one to understand what went wrong with the study and how this study lead to great changes in the world...
Words: 3472 - Pages: 14
...Lesson 3 – Informed Consent, Substitute Decision-Making, and the Family Centered Approach * It should be noted that a choice might properly require only low/ minimal competence, even though its expected risks exceed its expected benefits or it is more generally a high-risk treatment, because all other available alternatives have substantially worse risk/benefit ratios. * Thus, according to the concept of competence endorsed here, a particular individual’s decision-making capacity at a given time may be sufficient for making a decision to refuse a diagnostic procedure when forgoing the procedure does not carry a significant risk, although it would not necessarily be sufficient for refusing a surgical procedure that would correct a life-threatening condition * The greater the risk relative to other alternatives—where risk is a function of the severity of the expected harm and the probability of its occurrence—the greater the level of communication, understanding, and reasoning skills required for competence to make that decision. * It is not always true, however, that if a person is competent to make one decision, then he or she is competent to make another decision so long as it involves equal risk. * Even if the risk is the same, one decision may be more complex, and hence require a higher level of capacity for understanding options and reasoning about consequences. * The evaluation of the patient’s decision-making will seek to assess how well...
Words: 3335 - Pages: 14
