The Code of Ethics of the American Association for Respiratory Care - Assignment Example

o f Ethics: American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC A. Introduction I would like to pursue a career in Respiratory Care. This field of endeavor is governed by the Code of Ethics of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). Being aware that normal health presupposes that individuals get to experience absolutely no problems in breathing, I became intrigued by patients who have breathing disorders. I would like to be instrumental in evaluating, treating and taking direct care of patients requiring alleviations in breathing dilemmas. My quick research on the profession made me aware that respiratory therapists have more opportunities in terms of specialization on areas of “pulmonary function, education, rehabilitation, home care, asthma education, emergency care, research, or management” (Florida Health Careers, 2009, par. 5). In addition, the fact that great responsibilities are accorded in the career in terms of doing immediate and appropriate life saving measures, especially during emergency cases, make it more challenging to delve into. In this regard, I would like to closely examine the code of ethics which govern the profession. In doing so, the moral issues, principles and applications to actual work situations would be revealed and hopefully serve as a guide for future endeavors. B. What moral issues are prevalent in this profession? The UCLA Health System revealed a relevant moral issue affecting respiratory therapists. According to the discourse, “the respiratory therapist has a difficult and crucial job in caring for patients who can no longer be cured; yet often continue to receive palliative and aggressive treatment. Whether it is simple suctioning or the withdrawal of the ventilator, the symbolic nature of their work becomes heightened as it represents the very basic connection to life – the breath. Yet it is often traumatic, painful and intrusive and creates a sense of conflict between what is necessary to sustain life and the burden of suffering. The family witnessing the procedure, as well as all healthcare staff, including the respiratory therapist, feels this discord.” (UCLA, 2008, 2) This ethical issue has been covered in one of the lessons covering euthanasia. In addition, as respiratory care falls under health careers, some ethical issues on the medical profession applies. There are instances which exemplify cases where professionals including respiratory therapists who are torn between accepting gifts (economic activity) in the course of rendering medical service (healing art) to their patients. If there are ulterior motives for gift giving (patients intending to solicit additional favors from the doctors – like priorities in diagnostic or therapeutic examinations, waiver of payments for some services, etc.- which could affect the normal delivery of health care), then, there are ethical implications and repercussions on the decisions to be made. When respiratory care practitioners promote products or speak in behalf of certain organizations (manufacturers of products or endorser of specialized services), there are conflicts in the administration of treatment (healing art) versus economic activity (commissions received for promoting products and services). There could be other products and services available in the markets which are competitive in prices and qualities. The decision for these could be left to the patients’ (or relatives’) prerogative or based on their personal judgments. C. What moral principles appear to be reflected in the code? There were twelve specifically defined ethical and professional principles that bind activities of respiratory therapists and those practitioners in respiratory care. The code of ethics encompass principles and values of integrity, objectivity, competence, respect and protection of legal and personal rights, confidentiality, nondiscrimination, promotion of wellness and disease prevention, refusal to participate in illegal and unethical acts, following scientific and ethical research procedures and compliance with state and federal laws, among others. There are other areas touching on avoiding conflicts of interests and promotion of stewardship of resources. According to the code of ethics, respiratory therapists are expected “to exhibit actions and carry our activities in a scrupulously honest manner, unbiased and free from personal feelings or prejudices” (AARC, n.d., par. 8); “must accept that self-determination defines a patient’s right to choose or refuse treatment” (par. 15); respect the patients’ trust and safeguard the privacy and security of this information” (par. 18) and “in order to assure the highest quality care to all patients, the ethical caregiver must have a clear idea of the potential for abuse when discrimination occurs within the areas of class, color, race, gender, age, handicap, culture, religion, creed, ethnicity, sexual orientation, national origin, politics or any other factor that will make a human-being unique” (par. 22), among others. D. Are these moral principles adequate for this particular profession? Why or why not? These moral principles are adequate for this particular profession as it already covers concisely the ethical issues that need to be appropriately addressed. There are basically five underlying theoretical framework for ethical decision making in the medical profession, to wit: deontological theory (what one must do, based on duties and obligations), teleological theory (the purpose or consequences of the moral acts), consequentiality theory (the moral value of an act, rule or policy is to be found in its consequences, not in intentions or motives), virtue ethics (seen in the way we feel is the ‘right’ way to behave towards patients and to colleagues) and casuistry (or case based reasoning, does not focus on rules and theories but rather on practical decision-making in particular cases based on precedent). (Slowther, et.al. 2004) Slowther, et.al. (2004) averred that “Beauchamp and Childress’ Four Principles approach is one of the most widely used frameworks and offers a broad consideration of medical ethics issues generally, not just for use in a clinical setting”. These principles are: “(1) respect for autonomy: respecting the decision-making capacities of autonomous persons; enabling individuals to make reasoned informed choices), (2) beneficence: balancing benefits of treatment against the risks and costs; the healthcare professional should act in a way that benefits the patient, (3) non maleficence: avoiding causing harm; the healthcare professional should not harm the patient. Most treatment involves some harm, even if minimal, but the harm should not be disproportionate to the benefits of the treatment. And (4) justice: respect for justice which takes the following forms: distribution of a fair share of benefits, legal justice - doing what the law says, rights based justice, which deals in the language, and perhaps the rhetoric, of claimed human rights, and hence goes beyond, though it includes, legal rights”. (Slowther, et.al. 2004) In this regard, based on the underlying framework for medical ethics, one should examine the rules that govern human action and the goods one is seeking in life. Conflicts arise when the interests of people do not coincide. For medical practitioners, including respiratory care practitioners, their ultimate responsibility is to “make the care of patients the first concern” (General Medical Council, 2000, 1). This means make healing art the priority over economic activity. The professional action of health practitioners must adhere to the highest standards of medical practice as stipulated in the code of ethics they pledged to abide. E. What level does the code represent? Explain. The code of ethics governing respiratory therapists is currently attainable and is expected to be strictly adhered to. It actually specifically identifies which tasks must therapists do including: “keeping and maintaining accurate records of patient contact and treatment, reporting suspected cases of spousal, elderly and child abuse, communicate honestly and effectively with other members of the care team, acting as a patient advocate in all situations involving respiratory care, and upholding the integrity of the Respiratory Therapy Licensure Act in their state, the integrity of the NBRC examination system and the integrity of the profession by reporting actions and activities detrimental to the proper function and administration of these processes” (AARC, n.d., par. 38). All of the musts are actually achievable and attainable. As there are organizations such as AARC that monitor and ensure that these rules are appropriately followed, respiratory therapists are thereby guided on the governing laws, regulations and rules that must be adhered to. F. What have you learned, if anything, from undertaking this assignment, which might be useful to you in whatever business or profession you ultimately select? I learned that code of ethics is a set of moral principles of conduct within a certain profession or an organization which guide practitioners into decision making based on theoretical discourses that conform to ethics and morals. Any career or profession must be guided by a set of professional principles that would ensure the safety, security, and protection of their clientele. However, it also serves as standards by which professionals must adhere to protect the integrity of their endeavor. The code of ethics gives practitioners a glimpse of possible moral and ethical issues that are prevalent in the career of choice. The moral principles provide clear and explicit statements that practitioners must adhere to in order to avoid legal implications and problems with clients under their care. Honestly, I am glad that the career on respiratory care is guided with the statement of ethics and professional conduct specifically designed by the AARC to ensure that I am, likewise lead to the right path of my professional life. Works Cited General Medical Council. (2009). Good Medical Practice: Duties of a Doctor. Retrieved 22 March 2010. < http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/duties_of_a_doctor.asp> Florida Health Careers. Respiratory Care. 2009. Web. 23 March 2010. From Slowther, A., Johnston, C., Goodall, J., & Hope, T. (2004). A practical guide for clinical ethics support. The Ethox Centre. Section C: Ethical Frameworks. Retrieved 22 March 2010. Read More