Question

LP1.1 Assignment: Research Topic Options

During this course, you will be working on a research paper to be submitted at the end of LP6 (Week 11). Your paper will focus on a healthcare management topic that is a source of ethics debates. It should:
1) address the ethical theories or principles that most influence current conversations about this topic.
2) discuss how these ethical theories or principles translate into healthcare policy decisions.

These ethical principles must come from the course readings this is evidence that you understand and have considered materials presented in this course.

Your paper must be 5 APA-style pages (Times New Roman, 12-point font, and with 1" margins). In addition to these 5 pages, it must also include a "References" page formatted in APA style that includes at least 6 credible sources. You can use the Web, books, journal articles, newspapers, or magazines. Keep in mind that you want good sources for your research ones that are current and credible.

For information on what a credible source is, please view the NAU Online Library’s tutorial on finding credible sources.

During this Learning Plan, you should begin thinking about a research topic to submit to your professor for approval. You can choose any topic related to healthcare ethics.

Choosing a Topic
You can choose a topic inspired by discussions, short papers, and non-graded activities. Here are a few examples of possible topics:

Should healthcare be universally available in the US? For example, should everyone receive the same quality of health care regardless of their ability to pay?

How should we make decisions about which patients receive high-cost, scarce medical resources such as organ transplant?

cultural diversity and differences in the medical environment

profitability vs. patient care

You may choose to do a paper on another topic, too, as long as it involves policy and ethics in the medical environment.

In choosing your topic, you should consider not only how interesting it is to you, but also how easy it will be to find information about it. You will need to find credible references and refer to them in your paper.

For more tips and guidance on choosing a research topic, visit this ProQuest Research Companion learning module, available to you for free through the NAU Online Library. You may also wish to use Credo Reference's mind map search for brainstorming.

LP1.1 Assignment: Research Topic Options

During this Learning Plan, you should begin thinking about a research topic to submit to your professor for approval. You can choose any topic related to healthcare ethics.

Choosing a Topic
You can choose a topic inspired by discussions, short papers, and non-graded activities. Here are a few examples of possible topics:

Should healthcare be universally available in the US? For example, should everyone receive the same quality of health care regardless of their ability to pay?

How should we make decisions about which patients receive high-cost, scarce medical resources such as organ transplant?

cultural diversity and differences in the medical environment

profitability vs. patient care

You may choose to do a paper on another topic, too, as long as it involves policy and ethics in the medical environment.

In choosing your topic, you should consider not only how interesting it is to you, but also how easy it will be to find information about it. You will need to find credible references and refer to them in your paper.

For more tips and guidance on choosing a research topic, visit this ProQuest Research Companion learning module, available to you for free through the NAU Online Library. You may also wish to use Credo Reference's mind map search for brainstorming.

What to Submit for this Assignment
For this assignment, submit a list of 3 topics you are considering for your paper. For each topic:
1) state what is interesting to you about this topic, and
2) speculate about which ethical theories or questions are raised by this topic.

Answer 1

In a Professional practice, the ethical principles provide guidelines for safe and compassionate care. The Professionals commitment to the ethical principles guarantees the public that they receive professional standard practice. Ethical principles in healthcare guides discourse about difficult issues in healthcare management. Advances in the management of diseases will concern about the implementation of new technologies. Principles of ethics guide difficult negotiations that can characterize decisions about healthcare.

Discussion and resolution of ethical principles and issues require critical thinking skills. Resolution of ethical issues incorporates not only the professional's personal values but also the interpretation of the client's personal values, based on a unique perspective of nurses. The basic ethical principle that follows in the healthcare management are

Nonmaleficence:

The nonmaleficence is the avoidance of harm or hurt. It insisting the health professional that ethical practice not only the will to do good, but also an equal commitment not to harm. The health professional tries to understand the difference between the risks and benefits in healthcare management.

In healthcare management, the harm refers the worsening condition of the patient. The healthcare Organization should have greater quality and greater utility in the treatment of patients. For example, the healthcare managers should supervise the staffs effectively. Lack of staff and resources leads to poor health outcomes. It can also be affected due to policy-making decision makers.

Beneficence:

Beneficence refers to taking positive actions. This principle helps the health professionals to take difficult decisions. this guides the professionals to the client's well-being and dignity. The health care professionals wish to help others but sometimes it becomes unprofessional. The non-maleficence and beneficence are controversies. Sometimes the patient does not know why the physician prescribes certain medication and it is considered as a paternalistic treatment.

Autonomy:

Autonomy is the person's independence. It is an agreement to respect another's rights. It is a fundamental practice in healthcare management. In healthcare management, it serves to justify the inclusion of clients in the decision making regarding their healthcare. Healthcare professionals agree to respect the client's autonomy.

Justice:

Justice is doing fairness. This is concerned in two main things such as procedural and allocation of resources. For example, the preferences in organ transplantation according to the need. Selling organs for profit or favor to recipients is an injustice.

Discrimination based on Need:

The health care should be distributed equally among all the people. the patient who needs emergent treatment should be treated first. In the same way, the victims of natural disaster should be treated. Disparities should not be exist based on the physical, mental ability, socioeconomic status. In the United States, the major healthcare discrimination occurs due to race and gender. The claim is least supported by ethical theories.

Positive Rights:

A positive right is a legal right which fulfills the legal obligations of one's right. According to HIPPA one has the legal right to protect themselves. For Example, the legal right to abortion.

Substance rights:

Substance rights are the right to have housing, minimum wages, healthcare, welfare, safe environment. This is the rights of one's to meet the basic needs of life. In the United States, the rights to get treatment in the emergency department regardless of the ability to pay.

Negative Rights:

Negative Rights means one has right to do anything which has not forbidden by the law. For example, the Bills of Rights, the right to speech and assembly, right to have the weapon, right to free smoke etc. Protection against sexual harassment, the safe working environment is negative legal rights.

Natural Rights:

One should respect the human natural rights. Each one has been from a different perspective and one should respect their cultures, values, languages, and right to have healthcare.One has right to have natural rights under different philosophical views.

The healthcare must think about judgment before taking the decision. Ethical theory play a major role in professional's motivations. Some may believe in the help of others is one's duty, and some believe in decreasing of suffering and to help them better is appropriate decision making. Anyway, one has might be able to justify his/her actions based on ethical principles.

Reference:

1. See E.E. Morrison, Ethics in Health Administration, 2nd Edition, 48.

2. J.J.C Smart, " Distributive Justice and Utilitarianism" in Justice and economic distribution ed. J.Arthur and W. Shaw, 103.'

3. R.M Hare," Justice and equality" Justice and Economic Distribution, ed. Arthur and Shaw,117.