Question

Ethical dilemmas are becoming more common in the changing health care environment. More questions are being raised and fewer answers are available. New guidelines need to be developed to assist in finding viable solutions to the questions.

Scenario:

Over the past several weeks, you have noticed that your closest friend, Jimmy, has been erratic and has been making poor patient-care decisions. On two separate occasions, you quietly intervened and "fixed" his errors. You have also noticed that he volunteers to give pain medications to other nurses' patients, and you see him standing very close to other nurses when they remove controlled substances from the medication distribution center. Today, you watched him go to the medication distribution center immediately after another colleague and then saw him go into the men's restroom. Within about 20 minutes, his behavior had changed completely. You suspect that he may be taking controlled substances. You and Jimmy have been friends for more than 20 years. You realize that if you approach him, you may jeopardize this close friendship that means a great deal to you. Using the MORAL ethical decision-making model, devise a plan to resolve this dilemma.

To prepare your response:

·       Review the learning resources assigned this week.

·       Reflect on factors that impact decision making.

Post your response to the discussion topic by Day 4 (Thursday) at 11:59 PM. Make sure your response addresses the following:

·       What is the ethical dilemma in this situation?

·       What are the ethical principles in this situation to be considered?

·       What are the long-term effects of the nurses's decision?

Answer 1

Given situation:

Mr X and Mr J are closest friends Mr X finds that Mr J is erratic and suspected that he is using drugs. One day Mr X started to watch the movements of Mr J. He found that Mr J was closely moving with a nurse who gives controlled substances to patients. After few minutes, Mr J went inside a room and after 20 minutes Mr X found that Mr J has changed his behavior completely Mr X suspects that Mr J uses controlled substances

1. What is the ethical dilemma in this situation?

ANS: Mr X follows the ethical principle of justice

2. What are the ethical principles in this situation to be considered?

ANS: Principle of justice says that nurses and other health-care professionals have to be treated equally.

Mr X takes steps to control Mr J from using the drugs. He must slowly approach him and speak about the dilemma. Once Mr X explains about the wrongdoing of Mr. J, he would understand the consequences that he would face in the future.

3. What are the long-term effects of the nurses's decision?

ANS: The longer an addiction lasts, the more stress and strain it puts on the individual. So Mr J is prevented from long-term physical and emotional effects.