Ethics Medical Dilemma
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Introduction
Teen pregnancy is an imperative aspect and issues relating to it ought to be dealt with keenly and through use of necessary ethical practices. There are healthiness dangers for children born to teenage mothers as they are prone to suffer health, social, and emotional complications. Women who become pregnant during their teens are at an increased risk for health problems such as premature labor and socioeconomic consequences. In this case, the patient (Rachel) has not been given any form of medication or seen by a physician on duty. The patient is distressed because of the fear that her parents do not want any assistance. The assigned nurse is cognizant of Rachel’s status; personal freedom to make a choice between prayer and religious tradition in place of medical treatment for medical problems (Welfel, 2009). Consent for treatment such as cesarean section for premature fetal distress has to be obtained by the hospital before treating the patient. If denied the treatment, Rachel and her baby are in danger and given that she is a minor, the hospital will have to face a big lawsuit.
Ethical Issues Presented In the Simulation
The dilemma puts two of the most significant ethical principles in direct confrontation; respect for patient autonomy and beneficence. In this context, patient autonomy offers personal freedom to choose prayer and religious ritual in place of medical treatment for a medical problem. Beneficence principle relates to facilitation of treatment to the patient (the minor) regardless of the wishes of the parents (Husted & Husted, 2008). In most cases, parents ought to get consent for treatment such as cesarean section so that Child Protective Services can avoid lawsuit. However, in cases extremely risky therapeutic situations, courts and Child Protective Services usually acted contradictory to the parents’ stand and conduct treatment of the minors appropriately. From these affirmations, ethical decision making underpins the balance between the needs and interests of the patient, the society, and Child Protective Service.
Decision-Making Steps to Ethically Address These Issues
Ethical decision making is required through considering ethical principles such as fairness, beneficence and autonomy as well as the professional, ethical standards and codes. A sound decision making framework is a prerequisite tool in solving complex ethical dilemmas such as the one presented in this simulation study (Donnelly, 2011). The steps followed in making an ethical decision in relation to the case of Rachel is as follows:
Clarifying and precisely determining what ought to be decided
In this case, a full range of alternatives are formulated, and patently impractical and illegal options eliminated based on the health care ethical principles and values (Welfel, 2009).
Examination and evaluation of the options
Facts and assumption relating to ethical health care principles are critically assessed so as to ascertain the credibility of the alternatives by considering their benefits, burdens and risks to each stakeholder.
Making the ethical decision
Making a choice from the developed and assessed alternatives done by examining what is not true and their respective consequences to the stakeholders (Husted & Husted, 2008). Ethical healthcare values are chosen and advanced while unethical ones are dropped; this implies that the patient is treated in the most benevolent way so as to protect her life and that of the unborn child.
Implementing, monitoring and modifying
The decision is implemented to maximize its benefits and minimize health risks. The decision can be modified so as to take a different course of action by adjusting to new information.
Ethical Perspectives or Lenses Used to Make Decisions in the Simulation
The ethical perspectives considered in making decisions in this context are respect for autonomy of patients. Choices for treatment are executed through a jointly accredited expertise between patients and healthcare physicians (Husted & Husted, 2008). Participatory lens in decision making is vital in making feasible decision that will strike a balance between the patient, health care service providers and the community. Fairness and shared decision making are key perspectives which are put in consideration when treating Rachel in this simulation, while upholding patient autonomy.
How the ethical lenses influenced decisions
Ethical lenses play an imperative role in decision making as they guide the health care practitioners in ascertaining the needs of patients. The ethical dilemma presented concerning the medical complication of Rachel and her child required analysis of the benefits of the treatment plan to be used (Donnelly, 2011). This implies that autonomy of the patient as a principle and beneficence had to be weighed so as to save her life and avoid the lawsuit. Through participatory decision making, it could not work since parents were aligned to an option which could jeopardize the life of the minor and her child. Their views were thus overridden on medical treatment grounds and in line with the beneficence principle (Donnelly, 2011).
Relevance of concepts from this simulation to my work place
Concepts such as ethical health care decision making are particularly relevant to my work place. Patients are entitled to proper medical attention for their benefit while at the same time maintaining their autonomy (Welfel, 2009). Participatory decision making is vital as it ensures that treatment decisions based on jointly shared expertise between the health practitioner and the patient. Steps of ethical decision making are imperative as they ensure that appropriate options are evaluated and adopted based on their significance as far as ethical and professional codes of healthcare are concerned.
References
Welfel, E (2009). Ethics in counseling and psychotherapy: standards, research, and emerging issues. Edition 4. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
Donnelly, M (2011). Healthcare Decision-Making and the Law: Autonomy Capacity and the Limits of Liberalism, Volume 12 of Cambridge Law, Medicine and Ethics. Cambridge University Press.
Husted, G & Husted, J (2008). Ethical decision making in nursing and health care: the symphonological approach Springer Series. Edition 4. Springer Publishing.
