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Ethics and Values in Professional Practice Definition of Ethical Dilemma Ethical Dilemma is a situation that requires a choice between two or more evenly balanced alternatives, which are on the edge of right and wrong (Webster Dictionary). The dilemma usually arises because of the difference in values and moral standards. When applied to professionalism, ethical dilemmas arise because of different interpretation or misuse of the rules or standards of conduct governing the members of a profession (Siegler, 68: 461 - 7). Identification of the Ethical Dilemma The dilemma described in the scenario is primarily concerned with medical ethics. The medical profession has several characteristics that set it apart from some other professions.
According to Sir William Osler, The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head. (Osler, 368) Osler noted in 1932 that the medical profession had four other laudable features: 1) its noble beginnings in the skeptical and critical Hippocratic school, 2) its remarkable solidarity, 3) its progressive nature, and 4) its existence for the benefit of others (Osler, 370). The latter feature is the most applicable to this scenario. It seems as if medical staff is somewhat more concerned with their reputation than with the patients health conditions. The dilemma in this situation, therefore, is between performing in the best interests of the patient disregarding the negative comments from the patient and her family and caring about the reputation by all means possible (meaning satisfying all patients requests even if it harms her health). Personal values and beliefs that influence attitudes In 1994, P.
P. Reynolds, MD, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote that the medical profession has a set of values, attitudes, and behaviors in the service of others that is unique (Reynolds, 120: 609 - 14). Two values that are essential to the practice of medicine are honesty and integrity. Other desirable attributes are humility and accountability to patients, colleagues, and society. A physician should be nonjudgmental and respectful of patients.
He or she should pursue knowledge and the improvement of skills with a lifelong commitment to competency and with a collegial and cooperative approach to other members of the healthcare team. Finally, the physician should devote time to community service and public leadership to fulfill the goals set forth for the profession by the public (Morreim, 6: 257 - 79). Factors to be considered in resolving the above dilemma Well-being of the patient is the most important factor to be considered by the medical staff, relatives and any other parties involved. The medical institution is concerned with the reputation it projects after the unsatisfied comments of the patient.
It is quite understandable that reputation is very important. However, it should be also remembered that the present situation is beneficial in comparison with the one that would arouse if the patient were really not treated properly. Dealing with gossips and concentrating on the negative might transfer staffs attention from treating patients onto proving its righteousness. Theories and principles, which are most relevant in the above dilemma Freedom.
This principle encompasses the ideal of human life and dignity, which also includes autonomy. The principle of freedom also is intertwined with these. Freedom allows a patient to make personal decisions based on his or her own beliefs. This freedom must be given to the competent patient, even if the patients choices conflict with beliefs of family members or the health care team (Spivey, l 10: 688 - 95). Advocacy. Advocacy in nursing has two components.
The first is that advocacy in the nursing role implies that nurses support patients autonomy or patients rights to freely choose, regardless of whether the nurse agrees with patients decisions. Second, advocacy in nursing includes the nurses ability to take action on behalf of the patient (Schroeter). The term advocacy is especially applicable to the perioperative practice environment because it is during this phase of the surgical experience that sedated or anesthetized patients are vulnerable (Sadler, 106 - 115). Professionalism. Medicine is not the only calling that has struggled to hold on to its professionalism. For example, the legal business retains the outward appearances of a profession, with its lofty goals of truth and justice, but its energies are often sold to further the goals of the untruthful and the unjust.
Medicine has been able to retain its professional status to a greater extent than has the legal community, but our professionalism is still threatened by a confluence of new and old forces: technology, corporati zation, specialization, failure, and greed (Beauchamp, 436 - 437). The term profession originates from the Latin profited, which means to declare aloud, to make a public avowal (Websters Dictionary). Professionalism includes the following (Rushton, S 387 -S 388): High ethical standards. The ethical standards of a profession are high, and its members are expected to abide by its code of conduct. Autonomy. By virtue of their specialized knowledge, professionals are permitted to exercise their own judgment in the delivery of their services.
Accountability. Even though professionals are autonomous, they are nonetheless accountable to regulatory agencies and their peers. Specialized knowledge. A professional is in possession of a specialized body of knowledge that is valuable to society. Exclusivity. Entrance into a profession requires its members to have academic degrees, certification of competency, and a license.
Contributions made by individual members of the multi-professional team when seeking to resolve an ethical dilemma DENIS, PLEASE, LOOK UP IN THE INTERNET THE ABOVE TOPIC. SEARCH FOR SOMETHING LIKE RESOLUTION OF THE ETHICAL DILEMMA AND JUST COPY PASTE IT. REMEMBER THAT IT CANNOT EXEED 120 WORDS! ! ! Conclusion For medical staff to advocate for their patients, they must be empowered, but if advocacy is an expectation of their role, there should be a certain amount of authority inherent in the role to ensure that patients needs are met. Conflicts may be resolved more quickly if nurses and doctors have the authority to confront a situation at the time it presents. Health care administrators must ensure that nurses are given a voice with which to advocate for their patients.
Corporate compliance is one way in which organizations are attempting to promote advocacy in health care, especially via nurses (Wolfe, 77, 79, 81 - 82). Perioperative nurses, by virtue of the nurse-patient relationship, have obligations to provide safe, professional, and ethical patient care. It is important that nurses know how to manage ethical decisions appropriately so that patients ethical rights can be honored without compromising the nurses own moral conscience (Doswell, 353 - 361). Assuming the stance of a patient advocate involves acting on ethical principles and values. As health care shifts toward a more cost-oriented focus, it becomes imperative for nurses and other health care providers to understand the concepts and issues that affect patient care (Woolhandler 321 - 3). As a result, nurses need to develop an understanding of the ethical terminology and considerations that will enable them to manage such situations in the future.
They cannot deny their responsibility and accountability to their patients. It no longer is enough to just do no harm. Nurses and doctors must be able to act to ensure that safe, competent, legal, and ethical care is provided to all patients (Kuttner, 338). Unfortunately, physicians cannot practice pure altruism in the current medical environment. However, although their knowledge and skill are for sale, their professionalism and ethics are not. Doctors and nurses should never prostitute their profession.
It is their duty to honor, protect, preserve, and promote professionalism. Action Plan There is an obvious potential risk for the safety of the patient when under the care of an impaired health care worker. The nurse in this case also needs help to continue his practice and nursing career. Nurses who observe this situation must report their concerns to the department manager or appropriate administrator for intercession. The risk must be removed from the patient. The manager then must take appropriate action on the patient's behalf and the staff members behalf.
The manager must act to remove the nurse from the care environment and provide another caregiver for the patient. Furthermore, the manager should attempt to obtain assistance for the staff member to deal with the problem at hand (ie, substance abuse). Nurses should be aware of support programs offered to staff members to effectively treat such problems. Nurses, as patients moral agents, must be ready and able to advocate for patients needs whenever necessary while providing care. Additionally, they should intervene to protect the patients safety. Safety issues can take many forms, from verifying patient identity to medication administration.
Ensuring patient safety in the hospital environment is just one way in which nurses can advocate for their patients. Works Cited Beauchamp, T L; Childress, J F. Principles of Biomedical Ethics, fourth ed (New York: Oxford University Press, 1994) Doswell, W M; Even, J A. Multicultural issues and ethical concerns in the delivery of nursing care interventions, Nursing Clinics of North America 33 (June 1998) 353 - 361. Kuttner R. Must good HMOs go bad?
First of two parts: The commercialization of prepaid group health care N Engl J Med 1998 Morreim EH. Cost containment: Issues of moral conflict and justice for physicians. Theor Med 1985. Osler W. The master words in medicine. In: Ae quanimitas: With Other Addresses to Medical Students, Nurses and Practitioners of Medicine.
Philadelphia: P. Blackistons Son, 1992. Reynolds PP. Reaffirming professionalism through the education community. Ann Intern Med 1998.
Rushton, C H. Child-family advocacy: Ethical issues, practical strategies, Critical Care Medicine 21 suppl (September 1993) Sadler, G R, et al. Nurses unique roles in randomized clinical trials, Journal of Professional Nursing 15 (March/April 1999). K Schroeter, Advocacy in perioperative nursing practice, AORN Journal 71 (June 2000) 1207 - 1222. Siegler M. Falling off the pedestal: What is happening to the traditional doctor-patient relationship?
Mayo Clin Proc 1993. Spivey BE. Professionalism, specialization, and competition. Am J Ophthalmol 1990 Websters II New College Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995 Wolfe, S. Clinical trials: How informed should consent be?
RN 63 (June 2000) Woolhandler, Himmelstein DU. Ethical guidelines for physician payment based on capitation N Engi J Med 1999
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Research essay sample on Ethics And Values In Professional Practice
