...Decisions and Judgment 5 Informed Consent 6 Regulatory issues and policies of informed consent are addressed. 7 Finance issues 8 Patient care issues 9 Human resources issues 9 Legal issues 10 Regulatory issues 11 Protocols to address patient safety issues 12 Protocols to address patient access issues 14 Ethical responsibility for transparency in health care 15 End of life and quality of life issues 17 Alternatives in decision-making for health care administrators to resolve ethical dilemmas within the organization 19 Conclusion 20 References 22 Introduction Healthcare is the treatment of health related issues such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Healthcare is provided by Doctors, nurses and other licensed healthcare professionals. Who work at an office or a facility which would be a healthcare organization. By definition “An organization, by its most basic definition, is an assembly of people working together to achieve common objectives through a division of labor, people form organizations because individuals have limited abilities. An organization provides a means of using individual strengths within a group to achieve more than can be accomplished by the aggregate efforts of group members working individually. Business organizations (in market economies) are formed to profit by delivering a good or service to consumers.” (Advameg, Inc., 2016). Healthcare has evolved over the years to incorporate ethics within treatment and planning for the...
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...Ethical Healthcare Issues Paper Robert Cordero HCS/545 May 23, 2011 Richard Nordahl Ethical Healthcare Issues Paper There are numerous ethical healthcare issues that current affect our society. This one is at the forefront of what makes us a society, the ability to reproduce. One of the most important things for most couples who unite is to start a family. Children make up an important part of our society by ensuring that our species continues to evolve. The majority of couples accomplish this by reproducing by sexual intercourse or naturally, but this is not always the case as some couples have trouble conceiving. Also, same sex couples and single women who may chose to have a child without a partner cannot reproduce this way, thus requiring alternate methods in order to conceive a child and reproduce. Artificial insemination is a process that doctors might suggest for couples who have trouble conceiving a biological child. The process requires that the husband’s, partner’s, or donor sperm be placed directly in the female’s reproductive tract. Donor sperm is used if the partner’s or husband’s sperm count is too low or in the case of same sex couples or single females trying to conceive without a partner (Baxamusa, 2011). The doctor monitors a woman’s ovulation cycle and once the best day is determined semen is placed directly on the reproductive tract and the waiting period begins to see if fertilization occurs. There are several procedures used to artificially...
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...providing care that will prolong life but decrease quality of life, euthanasia, whether to break confidentiality to provide care for a patient, stem cell research, etc. Currently, ethical decisions in the nursing profession and health care are becoming more complex. Due to this change nurses today require advanced problem solving ability and critical thinking skills to deal with ethical issues. Patient’s lives can be greatly affected by the decisions healthcare members make pertaining to their care. Decisions involving ethics can create situations in which parties disagree with one another on the plan of care. Emotions and interpersonal relationships are factors that interfere with a nurses’ ability to make clear decision related to their patients during these difficult situations. Developing an advanced nursing problem solving skills and critical thinking skills will allow nurses to be the best patient advocate. (Hodgson, Mendenhall, & Lamson, 2013) In this paper I will discuss a situation that reveals how the different types of healthcare ethics could change the overall outcome of the situation. Importance of Ethical Theory to Nursing Utilitarianism/Consequentialism: In ethics utilitarianism is a theory that states the rightness or wrongness of a decision or action is decided by its effectiveness in producing the greatest happiness of all those involved. Utilitarianism is a type of consequentialism, which promotes that those actions are right which bring about the greatest good...
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...However developing a policy for treating AMA patients might offer assistance with this dilemma. The frequent AMA patient needs to have a social service consult initiated upon admission and daily competency assessments. As with all patients, communication is essential and important, but increasingly more so for the AMA patient. These patients need to be updated on a daily bases about the plan of care, treatments, testing, and discharge planning. Furthermore, they need to be informed of delays that have or could occur and how they are being resolved. Not surprisingly, many of these patients having history of substance abuse or psychological issues, that would best be addressed upon admission and treatment initiated if needed (Bartley,...
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...The two principles that are in focus are beneficence and non-maleficence. Both beneficence and non-maleficence have played a fundamental historical role in medical ethics (Beauchamp &ump; Childress, 2009). Non-maleficence is often paired with beneficence, but there is a difference between these two principles (Rich, 2008). According to Beauchamp and Childress (2009) conflating beneficence and non-maleficence into a single principle obscures important distinctions. In addition, both of these ethical principles beneficence and non-maleficence are strengthened by state nursing practice acts, which mandate that nurses are legally obligated to safeguard patients and the profession (Bjarnason &ump; LaSala, 2011). Furthermore, it is with great purpose that we discuss the two principles beneficence and non-maleficence and their importance to the nursing profession. The principle of beneficence is concerned with a moral obligation to act for the benefits of others (Kennedy, 2004). Additionally, beneficence is the principle consisting of deeds such as mercy, kindness, and charity (Rich, 2008). There are other forms of beneficence including altruism, love, and humanity (Beauchamp &ump; Childress, 2009). We use beneficence in order to cover beneficent actions more broadly, so that it includes all forms of action to benefit other persons (Beauchamp &ump; Childress, 2009). Overall, beneficence implies that an individual takes action to do good by benefiting others and facilitating...
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...costing the health system up to $290 billion per year increased medical cost, according to a Boston-based health policy group that is pushing to make the issue part of the national health reform debate (Fierce Healthcare, 2009). Physicians should be the ones discussing the compliance of their patients. Patients are more likely to be compliant if they feel they are more in control of their health, and if their physicians have the same beliefs about their health as they do. In this paper we will discuss the Autonomy assumes a certain level of respect for persons and their ability to take actions that affect their health. It does allow for health care providers to educate their patients but it does not allow them to make the decision for their patients’ health issues. Health care professional must understand why a patient is refusing or being non-compliant with their health or medications. Patients need to be properly informed of their treatment; the physician should include all of the options available in order for the patient to make the correct decision. Making efforts to ensure the patient understands the disclosures and the treatment plan is an ethics obligation if you are seeing informed consent (Harris, 2008). Some patients are not noncompliant by choice, there are those who may be educated enough, have no family support, maybe depressed or could have some cognitive issues that are preventing them from being...
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...JUSTICE AND DIVERSITY WORD COUNT 3846 Introduction The aim of this assignment is to consider whether mental health patients have autonomy or do staff and the healthcare environment merely allow them a measurable quantity of autonomy based on legal, ethical and moral restrictions, if this is the case, is this autonomy at all? Placement experiences will be given in relation to patient autonomy and related ethical, legal and professional issues will be supported and/ or contrasted by relevant literature. Patient autonomy and capacity, consent, compliance, coercion and paternalism with be considered. In an attempt to show a deeper understanding and ability to apply theory to practice, the moral theories of liberal individualism, utilitarianism, Kantianism and communitarianism will be discussed in relation to patient autonomy. Attitudes, values, assumptions related to patient autonomy, implications for practice and care provision will also be reviewed. This topic has been chosen, due to personal interest following practice experiences on an adult acute mental health unit. All identifying factors relating to the patients have been changed to maintain client confidentiality (Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct 2002). A conclusion will be offered to evaluate findings, finalising with a reflective summary focusing on the process of enquiry. Autonomy Autonomy means self rule (Dworkin 1988). It as the ability to think, choose and act freely and...
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...Assisted Suicide Yusuf J. Shalah HSA 515 Dr. James Coon 1. Explain how the Patient Bill of Rights applies to the situation. With regards to this situation, the Patient’s Bill of Rights was established to contribute to more effective patient care, and to ensure that care is considerate and respectful, and more importantly, to ensure a health care ethic that extends that respect to a patient’s role in decision-making about treatment choices and other aspects of their care. “These rights can be exercised on the patient’s behalf by a designated surrogate or proxy decision maker if the patient if the patient lacks decision making capacity, is legally incompetent or is a minor.”(Aha, 1993) Mrs. Jones, in our scenario, is a patient evidently suffering from a terminal illness possibly in its latter stages, or possibly a fresh diagnosis. In either situation, from the information provided Mrs. Jones has made no declaration, or request, agreement to receiving an extra dose of a narcotic which could potentially end her life. Thus, Nancy nurses’ decision to administer this extra dose is not only capable of killing her, but is also premeditated. There is no consideration to her wishes, those of her family, and a blatant disregard of any other health professionals involved. If you are to be justified in helping someone to die (assisted suicide), the person you are going to ‘help’ must have made it clear that they want to be killed. “A unilateral decision that is...
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...End-of-Life Care Clinical Instructor Informed consent * Refers to the knowledge or information about and the consent to a particular form of medical treatment is administered. The information should include the risks and advantages of any medical treatment that concerns the patient. * Is an agreement by a client to accept a course of treatment or a procedure after being provided complete information, including the benefits and risks of treatment, alternatives to the treatment and prognosis if not treated by a health care provider. Four Major Elements of Informed Consent 1. Competence. This refers to a patient’s capacity for decision-making. One is considered competent when (a) one has made a decision (b) one has the capacity to justify one’s choice – competence here requires some process of deliberation, justification, and an articulation of why one has made this particular choice; (c) one does not only justify one’s choice but does so in a reasonable manner. 2. Disclosure. This refers to the content of what a patient is told or informed about during the consent negotiation. Then patient must be informed and must understand the information concerning medical treatment to be undertaken, so that a moral decision can be made. The disclosure of the information must be conducted in such a way that the patient understands the whole process and is aware of the possible outcomes of his or her normal choice. Should there be a language barrier between the...
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...ETHICAL ISSUES IN HEALTH To evaluate the impact of moral philosophy on medical practice we must first look at what a moral philosophy is, also which philosophies that will be included. Moral philosophy is the area of philosophy concerned with theories of ethics, with how we ought to live our lives. Deontology and utilitarianism are the two philosophies that I shall be evaluating and applying throughout this essay. These are two time-honoured philosophical positions that apply to a wide variety of topics. Deontology is an ethical system that is attributed to the philosophical tradition of Immanuel Kant. Deontology demands that the actions, or means themselves must be ethical. This philosophy is based upon principles of duty and obligation, we have the freedom to act morally (right) or otherwise (wrong) based on General Universal Laws. To respect life means that you must not kill, to respect others is not to steal these moral laws are black and white as you must do what is right and do not do what is wrong regardless of circumstance or outcome. Deontologists argue that there are transcendent ethical norms and truths that are universally applicable to all people. Deontology holds that some actions are immoral regardless of their consequence; these actions are wrong in and of themselves. We should not act out of feeling, inclination, love or compassion, but out of our moral duty according to the universal moral laws. Kant gives a ‘categorical imperative’ to act morally at all times...
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...form of emergency contraceptives, and this information must be given to the victim upon her request. These contraceptives are called the “morning after pill or plan B”. Question 2: What are the legal considerations of this issue? Some legal considerations are the Principles of Informed Consent. This principle allows a competent individual to advance his or her own welfare. The rights, responsibility are performed freely and willingly to consent, or the refusal of consent based on recommended medical procedures, such as the benefits, burdens and risks involved. Informed consent is based on; (a). Adequate disclosure of information (b). Patient’s freedom of choice (c) Patient’s understanding of information an (d) Patient’s ability for decision making. By meeting these requirements, three necessary conditions are satisfied that is; the individual’s decision is voluntary, the individual is fully aware of the circumstances, the individual’s choice is deliberate in so far as the patient has carefully considered all of the expected benefits, burdens, risk and reasonable alternatives. (“Ethical issues consent”, - 2012). This becomes a matter of legal concern when the Principles of Informed Consent can be proven that the victim was not given such information, or allowed to exercise this principle. Supporters of this act argue that emergency contraception reduces the risk of a potential pregnancy and does not represent...
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...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...
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...vital being in the institution. A patient is not just reflected as someone who is under medical care or treatment but, also someone who is a client of any medical service. As a patient, an individual should be considered as a partner in your hospital care. With this being said, they have personal preferences and values that a medical establishment should encourage and respect. As a patient, one has certain privileges, patient rights, of which are basic rules of conduct between patients and medical caregivers as well as the institutions and people that support them. (patient rights, n.d.). Once the entering of a medical establishment and being bombarded with a voluminous amount of documents during registration, how many of us are guilty of just signing and initialing our name at the bottom of the document without essentially reviewing it? Majority of the time, people tend to not realize their precise rights, as a patient, at the time of their care. When I asked one of my co-workers to list off their rights as a patient she barely knew anything. “To be quite frank, I honestly do not know my complete rights with the hospital. I just listen to my physician and leave it all in his hands. (Prince, 2015)” The reasoning behind this is; their rights where either never properly explained, not clearly defined or included in that bulky amount of paperwork. Indisputably, the healthcare provider plays a role in these misunderstandings conversely, a lot of...
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...options and determine their personalized care. Although there are different categorical distinctions of euthanasia, the main focus of this dilemma and the debate surrounding it focuses on the morality and acceptability of someone requesting another to assist and take action to end his/her life (Sanders & Chaloner, 2007). Respecting autonomy is not only prudent, it’s also widely known as a part of the healthcare code of ethics. It’s only reasonable to allow individuals who are fully aware and cognizant of their condition and are exercising their right to make an informed choice about assisted death (Sanders & Chaloner,...
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...Guide Queensland Health Guide to Informed Decision-making in Healthcare Disclaimer The information within the Guide to Informed Decision-making in Healthcare is intended as a guide to good clinical practice. The law and service delivery environment is constantly evolving, so while every attempt has been made to ensure the content is accurate, it cannot be guaranteed. The information within this document should not be relied upon as a substitute for other professional or legal advice. ISBN 9781921707391 ©State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2011 First edition February 2012 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 2.5 Australian license. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/au/ In essence, you are free to copy, communicate and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service, Queensland Health and abide by the license terms. For further information, contact: Informed Consent Program Manager Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service Centre for Healthcare Improvement, Queensland Health PO Box 152 Herston Queensland 4029 tel (+61) (07) 3646 9715 psq@health.qld.gov.au www.health.qld.gov.au/chi/psq/ For permission beyond the scope of this license contact: Intellectual property Officer Queensland Health GPO Box 48 Brisbane Queensland 4001 tel (+61) (07) 3234 1479 ip_officer@health.qld.gov.au Forward Patient-centred...
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