Reference no: EM133806688

Homework: Applying Ethical Principles

For this homework, you will develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health care professional. Before you complete the instructions detailed in the courseroom, first select one of the ethical dilemmas below to be the focus of your homework.

After you have selected one of the ethical dilemmas, return to the detailed instructions in the courseroom to complete your homework.

Case Study: End-of-Life Care for a Minor

Timothy Collins, a vibrant 16-year-old high school junior known for his passion for music and soccer, has been battling an aggressive form of leukemia for two years. Despite the initial hope and a brief period of remission, recent tests have shown that the leukemia cells have multiplied aggressively. The prognosis is grim.

After enduring multiple rounds of chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, and countless hospital stays, Timothy, weary from the side effects and the emotional toll of the disease, expresses a wish to his primary oncologist, Dr. Angela Foster, to discontinue his treatments. He has been researching and wishes to enter hospice care, hoping to spend his remaining time in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his loved ones.

His parents, Mr. Robert Collins, a bank manager, and Mrs. Lydia Collins, a schoolteacher, are devastated by Timothy's decision. They have been tirelessly researching and believe that a new experimental treatment overseas might offer a glimmer of hope. They cannot fathom giving up and want to explore every possible avenue to save their only child.

Dr. Angela Foster, a seasoned oncologist with over 20 years of experience, finds herself in one of the most challenging situations of her career. She deeply respects Timothy's maturity and his right to have a say in his care. However, she also understands the desperation and pain of the Collins family. The principles of beneficence and autonomy are at odds in this situation. While she wants to act in the best interest of Timothy, she also recognizes the rights of the parents and their wishes for their minor son.

Case Study: Medical Data Privacy

Nurse Diana Mitchell, a dedicated professional with over a decade of experience at City Health Hospital, prides herself on her commitment to patient privacy. One evening, while assisting Dr. Roberts with patient record updates, she inadvertently stumbles upon medical records of her neighbor, Samuel Gray. The records reveal that Samuel has been receiving treatment for HIV for the past two years.

The discovery leaves Diana in shock, not just because of the diagnosis, but because her younger sister, Emma, recently mentioned that she had started dating Samuel. Diana is very concern for her sister's well-being.

Diana is torn. The principle of confidentiality is a cornerstone of medical ethics, and she knows the legal and professional implications of breaching it. However, the personal stakes are high.

She fears for her sister's health and feels a moral obligation to inform her. Diana grapples with the weight of her professional responsibility against her protective instincts as an older sister.

In addition, you are encouraged to review the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed.

For this homework, develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health care professional. In your homework:

I. Select one of the case studies presented in the Homework Supplement: Applying Ethical Principles [PDF] resource.

A. Note: The case study may not supply all of the information you need. In such cases, you should consider a variety of possibilities and infer potential conclusions. However, please be sure to identify any assumptions or speculations you make.

II. Summarize the facts in the selected case study and use the three components of an ethical decision-making model to analyze an ethical problem or issue and the factors that contributed to it.

A. Identify which case study you selected and briefly summarize the facts surrounding it. Identify the problem or issue that presents an ethical dilemma or challenge and describe that dilemma or challenge.

B. Identify who is involved or affected by the ethical problem or issue.

C. Access the Ethical Decision-Making Model media piece and use the three components of the ethical decision-making model (moral awareness, moral judgment, and ethical behavior) to analyze the ethical issues.

1. Apply the three components outlined in the Ethical Decision-Making Model media.

D. Analyze the factors that contributed to the ethical problem or issue identified in the case study.

1. Describe the factors that contributed to the problem or issue and explain how they contributed.

III. Apply academic peer-reviewed journal articles relevant to an ethical problem or issue as evidence to support an analysis of the case.

A. In addition to the readings provided, use the Capella library to locate at least one academic peer-reviewed journal article relevant to the problem or issue that you can use to support your analysis of the situation. The NHS-FPX4000: Developing a Health Care Perspective Library Guide will help you locate appropriate references. You will select at least one current scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles published during the past 3-5 years that relate to your topic.

1. Cite and apply key principles from the journal article as evidence to support your critical thinking and analysis of the ethical problem or issue.

2. Review the Think Critically About Source Quality resource.

a. Assess the credibility of the information source.

b. Assess the relevance of the information source.

IV. Discuss the effectiveness of the communication approaches present in a case study.

A. Describe how the health care professional in the case study communicated with others.

B. Assess instances where the professional communicated effectively or ineffectively.

C. Explain which communication approaches should be used and which ones should be avoided.

D. Describe the consequences of using effective and non-effective communication approaches.

V. Discuss the effectiveness of the approach used by a professional to deal with problems or issues involving ethical practice in a case study.

A. Describe the actions taken in response to the ethical dilemma or issue presented in the case study.

B. Summarize how well the professional managed professional responsibilities and priorities to resolve the problem or issue in the case.

C. Discuss the key lessons this case provides for health care professionals.

VI. Apply ethical principles to a possible solution to an ethical problem or issue described in a case study.

A. Describe the proposed solution.

B. Discuss how the approach makes this professional more effective or less effective in building relationships across disciplines within his or her organization.

C. Discuss how likely it is the proposed solution will foster professional collaboration.

VII. Write clearly and logically, with correct use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.

A. Apply the principles of effective composition.

B. Determine the proper application of the rules of grammar and mechanics.