Question

What are the health care ethics are based on 5 principles that all healthcare providers should observe, then define and give an example of each one. ESSAY FORM PLAESE

Answer 1

THE PRINCIPLES OF HEALTHCARE ETHICS

The language of ethics related to healthcare, also commonly called bioethics, is applied across all practice settings, and four basic principles are commonly accepted. These principles include :

1. Autonomy

2. Beneficence

3. Nonmaleficence and

4. Justice

For Case managers, and other health professionals, VERACITY (truthfulness) and FIDELITY (trust) are also spoken of as ethical principles.

THE PRINCIPLE OF AUTONOMY

Autonomy is an American value. It is the ability to make decisions for oneself, also know as self-government. Respect for autonomy requires that patients be told the truth about their condition and be informed about the risks and benefits of treatment in order for them to make informed decisions. Under the law, they are permitted to refuse treatment even if the best and most reliable information indicates that treatment would be beneficial, unless their action may have a negative impact on the well-being of another individual.

THE PRINCIPLE OF BENEFICENCE

The beneficent practitioner provides care that is in the best interest of the patient. BENEFICENCE is the act of being KIND. The actions of the healthcare provider are designed to bring about a positive outcome. Beneficence always raises the question of subjective and objective determinations, of benefit versus harm. A beneficent decision can only be objective if the same decision would be made regardless of who was making it.

For example :Case managers have expertise in quality of life issues, and in this capacity can offer much to the discussions of lifestyle and life-challenging choices, particularly when dealing with terminal diseases and end-of-life dilemmas.

THE PRINCIPLE OF NONMALEFICENCE

Nonmaleficence means doing no harm. Providers must ask themselves whether their actions may harm the patient either by omission or commission. The guiding principle of primum non nocere, '' First of all, do no harm '', is found in the Hippocratic Oath.

Case managers can be accused of maleficence by omission if they failed to coordinate a patient's care correctly - for example, discharging a patient to an inappropriate level of care or leaving a patient in a dangerous living situation. A key role for the case manager is to be an advocate for the patient and neglecting this role could be maleficent.

THE PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE

Justice speaks to equity and fairness in treatment. Justice may be seen as having two types : Distributive and Comparative.

Distributive justice addresses the degree to which healthcare services are distributed equitably throughout society.

Comparative justice determines how healthcare is delivered at the individual level. It looks at disparate treatment of patients on the basis of age, disability, gender, race, ethnicity and religion.

THE PRINCIPLE OF VERACITY

Veracity (truthfulness) is not a foundational bioethical principle. It is at its core respect for all persons by being truthful. Veracity is the opposite of the concept of paternalism, which assumes patients need to know only what their physicians choose to reveal.

THE PRINCIPLE OF FIDELITY

Fidelity is loyalty. It speaks to the special relationship developed between patients and their healthcare professionals. Each owes the other loyalty, although the greater burden is on the provider to be worthy of the patient's trust and loyalty.

For example : If a physician promises the patient they will always be there to care for them, yet leaves the organization and joins another healthcare facility, the patient may feel the physician betrayed their loyalty. The same may occur with a case manager who promises the patient and family they will be available to help them, yet leaves the employment, which may make the patient feel abandoned.