Question

Q2. You have studied some of principles of healthcare ethics. give examples for ( Autonomy, Non-maleficence, Beneficence and Justice )?

Answer 1

There are four main principles of ethics: autonomy, beneficence,  non-maleficence and Justice

Autonomy- It means that patients have the right and ability to make their own choices and decisions about medical care and treatment they receive, as long as those decisions are within the boundaries of law.

EXAMPLE- A 22 year old female have met an accident. she did not lose consciousness, she is fully responsive and has no indications of neurological damage. but she had head wound which is bleeding continuously. This patient has refused treatment on the grounds that she feels fine and is refusing to have sutures to close her head wound. she would like to leave the Department.

In above case we cannot prevent her from leaving, and if we did it would be unlawful detainment.

Beneficence- It is defined as an act of charity, mercy, and kindness with a strong connotation of doing good to others including moral obligation,

EXAMPLE-An example of a nurse demonstrating this ethical principle is by holding a dying patient's hand.

NON- Maleficence-  It states that a medical practitioner has a duty to do no harm or allow harm to be caused to a patient through neglect.

EXAMPLE- So examples would be when a psychiatrist makes an exception to the duty to keep patient's secrets, in order to report to police that a patient has said she has an immediate plan to harm someone. In such CASE, the psychiatrist would be acting out of nonmaleficence — a desire to prevent harm to her patient's intended victim.

Justice- This principle states that when considering whether an action is ethical or otherwise, we must consider whether it is compatible with the law and the rights of the individual, and whether it is fair and balanced from a societal perspective.

EXAMPLE- Examples of justice in practice include offering the same treatment options to 2 patients, even where one may have a condition through no fault of their own and the other through personal behaviour (e.g. lung cancer and smoking), and allocating resources equally among members of the population.