Ethics in Nursing: Cases, Principles, and Reasoning - Essay Example

"Ethics in Nursing: Cases, Principles, and Reasoning" is a perfect example of a paper on medical ethics. Ethics is a system of moral principles followed by individuals. It is important for nurses to make ethical decisions that favor the individual’s value system. For professional decision-making, a nurse has to consider the professional codes of ethics and the rights of the patient. The ethical decision will involve the values, principles, and rights of patients. Patients should be well informed and aware of their values.

            Huntington’s disease is a condition inherited, that damages some nerve cells in the brain. The disease has no cure and is progressively worse as time moves. In this scenario, Walter being 21 years old has the right of knowing his health conditions. He is the one supposed to make the decision. He thus has a right to be tested and to know whether he is a carrier of the gene or not. In the same way, his father can choose whether to be tested or not. It would be of his father’s benefit if he knew his health status. The above information is supposed to be availed by the nurse. In such cases, the nurse protects both the fathers and the son’s health rights (Thompson, 2006).

            The ethics committee provides individuals with clinical ethics consultation. They also develop and revise the policies pertaining to clinical ethics. Lastly, they facilitate education about topical issues in clinical ethics. At the ethics committee meeting, the nurse, being the patient advocate should present the patients’ rights. The nurses interact more with patience, hence have a good understanding of their rights. Therefore, they protect the patients’ rights in the ethics committee meeting (King & Gerard, 2013).

            Nurses help resolve ethical conflicts and answer ethical questions as they serve as consultants in matters pertaining to patients. They are more involved with patients in all aspects. Most patients present their conflicts and arguments to the nurse. Hence, they are more familiar with their issues. The committee gets to know the patients better through the nurses. Nurses serve as an intermediate between the patients and the committee. When the patient feels like they are not ok with some of the ethical rules and decisions, it is through the nurses that they present their complaints (Benjamin & Curtis, 2010). During the ethical committee meeting, the nurses raised the issues and addressed them with substantial backup. She has to convince the board that what she says is exactly in the interest of patients.

            During the ethical committee meeting, issues concerning the values and expectations of patients during their hospitalization clearly elaborated by the nurses. Since moral decisions made based on these values, it is important for the committee informed. The committee then comes up with some ways in which the nurses will use to make the patients aware and understand these values (King  & Gerard, 2013).

            In conclusion, the Code of Ethics outlines the values, goals, and obligations of the profession. Nurses use it as a framework when they encounter problems that require decision-making (Thompson, 2006). In this scenario, the therapist uses the code of ethics to make an ethical decision that considers the rights of both Mr. Simon and his son Walter. She also uses it as a source of reference to answer any questions in case of anyone not satisfied with her decision.

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