Autonomy is defined as the freedom to make choices about issues that affect one’s life, free from lies, restraint, or coercion (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014, p 60). As this case study unravels itself it’s clear that autonomy is the ethical dilemma at hand. It is ethical wrong for health care providers not to obtain informed consent directly from the patient or in other words acting paternalistically, which in return violates the patients’ autonomy. If Linda were deemed incompetent, her autonomy rights would be removed, but since the patient decisional capacity is seen as intact all treatment should be consented to by her and her only, not the mother or any health care provider. Furthermore, not only has the conflict of these ethical principles …show more content…
The ethical principle beneficence is defined as to do good, or to act in a way that benefits the patient (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014, p 69). Therefore, I believe that the Neurologist and the attending acted paternalistically way; acting in a fatherly manner, because Linda has lost her ability to swallow, which has caused her to lose a significate amount of weight causing her to look clinically malnourished. That’s why they felt the best thing for Linda was to insert a feeding tube, but by doing that unknowingly the Neurologist overstepped the patients’ autonomy, or in other words the patient did not consent to having the tube placed. However, the attending physician knew of the patients’ wishes because there was a conversation between the nursing staff, social worker, and himself where she bluntly stated she did not want a feeding tube, but still let the insertion of the feeding tube happen, which is a direct violation of the ethical principle autonomy and an act paternalism. According to UCSF School of medicine “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 …show more content…
According to ANA (American Nurses Association) Deontology is though of as “not looking primarily at consequences of actions, but instead examines a situation for the essential moral worth of the intention of act, or rightness or wrongness of the act.” (ANA). I believe based on this theory it would guide the staff to making the choice to discontinue the feeding tube per patients request to not have one in the first place. It is the right choice to make for this particular patient even though it doesn’t offer the most health beneficial outcome. ANA (American Nurses Association) uses an a-like deontology example “For example, we have begun not to use restraints on older people for their safety and to think of other measures. We do this because restraining someone against his or her will could not be considered a universal law.” (ANA). In relation, we now us informed consents to allow patients autonomy or the right to make their own decisions, instead of doing it for them because it’s their own will to decide what health care treatment they want and don’t want. In this case Linda didn’t consent to the feeding tube and the right thing to do would be to discontinue as patient
“Consent, an issue for the Patient” In 1951, Henrietta Lacks’ cells were taken without her knowledge and to this day are still being used , she never got any type of recognition for that either both financially and publicly . Giving permission to doctors to do what they want with your body is a big debate today . Some people believe that there is no need for doctors to ask , and others think if somebody has something the world needs there is no such thing as permission . These people also believe that your body should be at the full disposal of the doctors . If it is your body you should be the only person in charge of what happens to it .
A piece of legislation was created in 2005, with the purpose to allow clinicians to make decisions for the patient, when it is deemed that they haven’t got the ability to think clearly or understand information that is being presented to them, whether that is permanently or temporarily. Whilst this is the case, different levels of capacity are required for different decisions, so a patient cannot be “deprived of their liberty” (SCAS, 2010, 5) and all decision made in the best interest of the patient must be the “least restrictive alternative” (SCAS, 2010, 7.1). This means that these decisions cannot cause the patient to feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or be detrimental to their health. Until proven otherwise, everyone is assumed to have capacity to make a decision. There are a variety of reasons that affect a patient’s capacity; neurological conditions (eg. dementia etc), head/brain trauma (eg. concussion etc) learning disabilities, effects of hypoxia, the effects of alcohol or substance use, amongst others (SCAS, 2010, 7.1).
Medicine has changed in ways over the years that one might have never thought twice about having anything like that happen to them. People today have increased their knowledge overall about their health situations and how to treat themselves. Patients are stepping up and making decisions about their healthcare choices each day with physicians. And in this process it has turned out to be so important for people to understand what is truly being done before medical treatment is given. We have talked this semester about informed consent and how important it is that our patients understand the meaning of what they are having done.
The physician is rendering the aid the patient requests and respecting the patient’s autonomous decision to exercise their right to
Ethics of healthcare depends on 4 moral standards and how they are utilised; autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. Autonomy, which means self-governance, is the rule for regarding the privileges of a person to settle on a choice for them self, and respecting that decision. In healthcare this implies regarding a patient's choice on treatments, regardless of the possibility that it could bring about damage or demise to themselves. Autonomy is about self-rule, control free, without impact or influence from any other person, and is tied in with making an educated and un-forced choice about their care and medicines, based from their qualities and inclinations. Alongside autonomy is the principle of justice, which incorporates reasonableness
Patient autonomy argues that a person’s life is their own, allowing a patient to make decisions on whether to live or die. This is seen most strongly in cases where people are suffering severe pain or disability. However, to what extend is individual autonomy to be undermined? In our current model, the guidelines for determining the competency of a patient present too many holes. Therefore, allowing life and death decisions to rest on individual autonomy rejects our society’s basic attitude or respect for
autonomy does not come with inaction but comes with competence in knowledge and skills. Being courageous enough to take charge and responsibility when situations demand for it in clinical practice. Professional autonomy in nursing could be independent or interdependent in which decisions or judgement is taken based on
The four core ethical principles that are called into question in the movie “Miss Evers’ Boys” are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Autonomy refers to the right of the patient to function independently and the ability to self-direct. This means that patients are entitled to decide what will happen to them, and if deemed competent, they have the right to either consent to or refuse treatment. All nurses and healthcare personal would be required to respect the patient’s wishes, even if they do not agree with them. Beneficence is the core principle that refers to the act of ‘doing good’ and advocating for the patient.
Autonomy: In a healthcare setting, the right of a patient to make informed choices about their body is defined as autonomy. The moral principle of respect for autonomy directs healthcare providers to refrain from preventing patients from making their own decisions unless these choices pose serious risks to the patient or society. This means that an informed and competent patient has the ability to either accept or decline treatments, surgeries and medications. From the information gathered in the assignment case, it can be assumed that Joseph is in a rational state of mind.
Healthcare professionals must work on the assumption that every patient has the capacity to make decisions about their care, and to decide whether to agree to, or refuse, an examination or treatment. However, in the case that patients are deemed to be lacking capacity the Mental Capacity Act (2005), The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act (2000) legislations must be followed (General Medical Council, 2008). Gaining consent before providing care or treatment to any patient is very important because patient requires
Case 10 D In this case we are introduce to a 38-year-old patient who suffer a car accident around eight years ago. During the car accident he suffer an aorta rupture that left him in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). Over the past five years Bob has been taken care for at a Catholic nursing home were he receives tube feeding, fluids and treatments for complications of his state. Recently his wife Lola and Bob’s parents have decided that they would want to discontinue Bobs feeding tube.
The practice of health care includes many scenarios that have to do with making adequate decisions when it comes to a patient’s life, and the way they are treated. Having an ethical code in all health care organizations is very important, because it helps health care workers with reaching a suited and ethical decision when it comes to the patient. In health care, patient will always be put first, and their autonomy will always be respected. Nevertheless, when there is a situation where a patient might be in harm, or might be making their condition worse because of the decisions they made. Health care workers will always be there to
Ethical Issues in Healthcare There are many ethical issues facing health care at any time and it is impossible to say definitively which is the most pressing or the most important. Health care professionals are expected to base their practice on a set of ethical principles, including truthfulness, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and confidentiality. Ethical issues can arise, however, when a l professional is called upon to act in opposition to personal values or in cases where the values of patient, health care worker, and sponsoring institution conflict. The following issues are presented in no order. Neonatal Ethics Neonates are babies within their first twenty-eight days of life.
Another ethical dilemma that nurses face every day are decisions patients make regarding their religion. This may fall under autonomy. Patients have the right to make whatever decision they make without interference from others. Nurses may advocate for patients and inform them about the risk that comes with their
While it is known that adequate water and nutrition is needed for survival, many health professionals are currently going through the dilemma of whether it is ethical or not to provide artificial tube feeding for patients with terminal diseases. Family and Consumer Science professionals, such as dietitians, know the benefits and risks associated with artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) and have the ability to suggest the most ethical decision to this controversial issue. Recent studies have demonstrated that artificial nutrition provides higher risk of medical complications, increases pain, and false hope of health recovery. Over the years, this historical debate has changed the way the community supports or opposes ANH on terminal disease cases, (Brody et al., 2011) however the justice for each patient is different depending on their diagnosis (Best, 2010). To further demonstrate the intensity of this issue, the research of Hartshell and Williams (2010) indicates that this emotional decision is better made by the patient themselves.