Applying Ethical Principles in Healthcare Decision-Making

Healthcare professionals encounter ethical dilemmas necessitating decisions grounded in moral convictions and values. The four fundamental ethical principles—autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—guide practitioners in navigating these complexities. W. D. Ross’s concept of prima facie suggests that moral principles are valid unless they conflict, thereby requiring careful decision-making (Othman & Hamid, 2018).

Overview of the Case Study

E.L Straight, the newly appointed head of medical practitioners, initiated policies to improve patient care. However, his reforms faced resistance, notably from senior staff surgeons at Hopewell. A significant incident occurred when Dr. Cutrite left a needle protector inside a patient during surgery. Straight, prioritizing patient well-being, encountered ethical challenges reconciling hospital interests with safety concerns.

Analysis of Ethical Issue in the Case Study

E.L Straight grapples with an ethical dilemma involving conflicting interests of the hospital and patient well-being, exacerbated by differing views within the medical personnel. Despite acknowledging the hospital’s reputation concerns, Straight prioritizes patient health, deeming the situation unethical (Darr et al., 2017).

Applying Ethical Principles

The International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) delineate primary and secondary outcomes in decision-making processes. A study on ethical and legal issues in geriatric care aims to offer insights for healthcare professionals in handling complaints and solutions for elderly patient care (Stacey et al., 2018).

In medical practice, decision-making encompasses moral awareness, judgment, and ethical behavior. The moral awareness approach evaluates actions based on overall impact, while the moral judgment approach stresses patient involvement in care planning. Ethical behavior assesses compliance with laws, patient responsibilities, and fairness in determining ethicality (Doherty, 2020).

In this case, E.L Straight’s ethical dilemma stems from conflicting principles of non-maleficence and justice, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing patient health (Morley et al., 2020).

Effectiveness of Communication Approaches in Case Study

Effective communication among healthcare professionals and patients is crucial for optimal care and resolving ethical dilemmas. The nurse supervisor demonstrated effective communication by promptly identifying the error. However, communication breakdowns within the hospital hierarchy and Dr. Cutrite’s reluctance indicate challenges (Doherty, 2020).

Resolving The Ethical Dilemma by Applying Ethical Principles

Healthcare professionals often utilize ethical principles like autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice to address ethical dilemmas. In this case, resolving the conflict between non-maleficence and justice entails seeking external assistance from healthcare organizations to align with ethical standards and regulations (Morley et al., 2020).

Conclusion

Ethical decision-making in healthcare is guided by principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. E.L Straight’s case underscores the need to navigate ethical dilemmas by adhering to principles that prioritize patient rights and well-being (Doherty, 2020).

References

Darr, K., Farnsworth, T. J., & Myrtle, R. C. (2017). Cases in health services management.

Doherty, R. F. (2020). Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Morley, J., Machado, C., Burr, C., Cowls, J., Joshi, I., Taddeo, M., & Floridi, L. (2020). The ethics of AI in health care: A mapping review. Social Science & Medicine, 260, 113172.

Othman, Z., & Hamid, F. Z. A. (2018). Dealing with an (expected) ethical dilemma: Experience from the field. The Qualitative Report, 23(4), 733-741.

Price, W. N., & Cohen, I. G. (2019). Privacy in the age of medical big data. Nature Medicine, 25(1), 37-43.

Stacey, D., Légaré, F., Lewis, K., Barry, M. J., Bennett, C. L., Eden, K. B., … & Trevena, L. (2018). Decision aids for people facing health treatment or screening decisions. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 4(4), CD001431.