Question

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES APPLICATION

Before making the final decision the doctor must consider the principles of health care ethics, which will help the physician make the choice that will have the best possible benefits for both the patient and society. Analyze the case scenario to be able to identify the 7 principles.

Mrs. De Leon, a patient who has an ovarian cyst, left untreated, will result in kidney failure. An operation to remove the cyst is the best treatment, but the patient is frightened of needles and is against the surgery that would require a needle to give her anesthesia. The doctor must work with the patient to respect the fact that she dislikes needles and doesn’t want the operation, and needs to find a solution that would prevent her from going into kidney failure, which is in her best interest. Although the surgery is the best choice, forcing the patient to accept the needle would be harmful to her . Finally, the doctor needs to consider the impact that the patient’s choices might have on others if she starts to go into preventable kidney failure, she’ll need dialysis, which affects other people who need the same treatment. The doctor also asked the patient that she will sign a consent form before the procedure and the nurse will ask her information, data, past and present medical history. The physician is committed to his roles and responsibilities as the attending physician of Mrs. De Leon.  

Write the statement from the given case that applied the ethical principles.  

Autonomy-

Confidentiality-

Veracity-

Fidelity-

Justice/ Fairness-

Beneficence-

Non- maleficence-

Answer 1

1.Autonomy is an ethical principle which is the right to the patient to make his/her own decisions and providing them with independence. This principles must be followed even if the medical practitioner doesn't agree with the patient.

In the above case two instances show the principle of autonomy:-

a.The doctor must work with the patient to respect the fact that she dislikes needles and doesn’t want the operation.

b.The doctor also asked the patient that she will sign a consent form before the procedure

c.Although the surgery is the best choice, forcing the patient to accept the needle would be harmful to her.

2.Confidentiality means to keep the secrecy of the patient upto him/her only.

In this case confidentiality cannot be figured out in any statement but Mrs.Deon has an ovarian cyst is a secret that must be kept only to her.

3.Veracity means to be truthful to the patient.Whether any harm has been done to a person or some bad prognosis is there a medical professional must be truthful to the patient.

In the above case veracity is shown in the following line:-

The doctor also asked the patient that she will sign a consent form before the procedure and the nurse will ask her information, data, past and present medical history.

4.Fidelity is being faithful towards the promises made or statements said to the patient as the patient takes every word of a medical professional treating them very seriously.

In the above case following line depicts this:-

The doctor must work with the patient to respect the fact that she dislikes needles and doesn’t want the operation

5.Justice/fairness is referred as to treat every individual as equal regardless of ethnic group, gender, culture, age, marital status, medical diagnosis, social standing, economic level, political or religious beliefs.

In the above case the line which depicts this is:-

Finally, the doctor needs to consider the impact that the patient’s choices might have on others if she starts to go into preventable kidney failure, she’ll need dialysis, which affects other people who need the same treatment.

6. Beneficence is simply just doing what is good for the patient and in sake of the treatment of the patient.

The line which depicts this is :-

The doctor must work with the patient to respect the fact that she dislikes needles and doesn’t want the operation, and needs to find a solution that would prevent her from going into kidney failure, which is in her best interest

7. Non malificence is simply not doing anything which will harm the patient intentionally or unintentionally.

The line which depicts this is:-

Although the surgery is the best choice, forcing the patient to accept the needle would be harmful to her.