Major Issues in the Professional Code - Essay Example

? ETHICAL CASE STUDY Introduction There has a heated debate with regards to the integration of moral philosophy and professionals. Much attention has focused on the use of the professional code as a means of integration. Thus, a code, and the behavior it advocates, is based on the deontological view of moral philosophy, is presumed to be substantially different than one founded on consequentialist principles. In ethics, narrative theories propose principles for differentiating right actions from wrong actions. The theories are divides (teleological) consequential or (deontological) non consequential. Consequential ethics determines the rightness or the wrongness in any action determined by the professional code of ethics (Burtness, 2000). Deontological principles focus on the concept of duty rather than any concept of right or wrong. With reference to the case, there are two types of deontological ethical theories, duty theories and rights theories. Duty theories purport an action as being morally right if it is in accord with some list of obligation and duties. Right theories is an action is morally right if it is adequately respects the right of all humans. Conversely, the two types of consequential ethical theories that are related to the case study include utilitarianism and ethical egoism. Utilitarianism states that people are driven by their fears and interests. However, their interests supersede their fears. A group of people can pursue their happiness while hurting others. Ethical egoism is a consequential theory that prescribes action that can either be beneficial or detrimental to the welfare of others. The deontological ethical theory, duty theory was not implemented by J.L mother. Despite the fact that, she is a nurse in the same hospital that J.L went to seek treatment, she could have respected the patient bill of rights. When J. L was in the emergency room, her mother could have given her privacy. The staff assumed that the mother wanted to stay even without seeking the patients’ permission. The duties of a nurse are to practice confidentiality with a patient. This clearly shows that her rights are being violated with respect to the rights theories. The nurses should have done the necessary tests to rule out a possibility of appendicitis. The nurse delays her treatment for about two hours, dishonoring their professional code of ethics that advocates for proper full attention towards a patient’s illness. Due to a lost specimen, the nurses decided on a pelvic exam that was traumatic to the patient. This is also seen as a violation of her rights. The reports indicating that the patient was uncooperative depicted that the moral rights of the nurse were not followed. The pregnant test done against J.L permission was also not a morally ethical act. After undergoing such an ordeal, the nurses did not recommend any form of treatment. This was a violation of the nursing code of ethics. The nurses were focused on the concept of duty rather than any concept of right or wrong (Marcum, 2010). If the consequential theory, which determines the rightness or the wrongness in any action were used in this scenario, J. L would have received better kind of treatment. J.L mother should have helped her daughter in the application and given her bill of rights to read. Confidentiality is an imperative issue especially when it is concerns with some ones health. The staff that was treating J.L should have examined her alone. Utilitarianism was clearly implemented as the nurse conducted a pregnancy test on a patient without his approval (Pozgar, 2007). They conducted this test on the notion that many underage girls have “immaculate conceptions” on the event they report abdominal pains. Ethical egoism could have been implemented on the event J.L did not tell her mother the diagnosis of her abdominal pain. Since, she is a nurse at that hospital; she would have easily accessed that information. The delay in the examination and lack of any remedy for the pain by the medical staff supports the ethical egoism theory that stipulates, the actions of a person may be detrimental to the welfare of others. The medial report that showed the patient was uncooperative was only best suited to the interest of the nurse and not the patient. Answer using the ethical kit tool. 1) The code of ethics provides a compulsory requirement for the health professionals to do good for the patient. It is important to implement the ethical standards to all patients and respect their rights. The medical staff in this hospital mistreats a patient on the notion that she is pregnant. Ethics and law should not inseparable. 2) This situation is more of a moral one ass opposed to a clinical one the nurses do not respect the confidentiality of a patient by allowing the mother to be with her in the emergency room. They conduct a pregnancy test on J.L without her consent. She undergoes a pelvic exam that is traumatic due to the loss of a specimen. They delay treatment for about two hours without any possible reason. These actions are morally unethical. 3) Violation of the patient’s Bill of Rights. The law demands that a patient should read his bill of rights. Nonmaleficence that is raised by the traumatic pelvic experience. The law demands that a patient must be consulted before a test is done (Burtness, 2000). The patient is left for hours unattended. The law demands the medical staff should attend to the patient at and ensure full treatment. 4) The nurses tend to believe the girl is experiencing abdominal pains because she is pregnant. They believe in this notion because most of the girls that have this kind of problem test positive for pregnancy which is not the case. This is why they put J.L under a traumatic pelvic exam. The mother has reason to believe that her daughter is a virgin. 5) The medical staff violated the professional code of ethics and their licenses should be suspended while they undergo refresher course on how to deal with patients. The mother should also respect patient confidentiality and let the assigned medical staff to treat the patient. 6) The person that is responsible for decision making is the physician after proper consultation with the patient and the nurses. 7) If I am not the primary decision maker, I would have advocated for further examination without causing harm to the patient. I would have made sure that the patient receives treatment for her abdominal pain. 8) An obligation of enhancing a safe and healthy working environment. Dedication of maintain ethical standards and patient confidentiality. Being able to effectively communicate in a timely manner with regards to the findings on the health of a person and offer advice. 9) The principal of beneficence is a dedication by health care professional to serving the patient’s interest and fostering a positive physician- patient relationship (Marcum, 2010). Another bioethical value in the medical profession is to promote fair distribution of health resources and actively eliminating discrimination. 10) Consequential ethics determines what is right or wrong in an act. In ethical reasoning, acting with good intention helps in achieving a positive outcome. Determining what practical choice will be deemed best for a patient is fundamental. Following the professional code of ethic and putting them into practice is the ultimate character required from the medical staff. References Burtness, J. H. (2000). Consequences: morality, ethics, and the future. California : Fortress Press. Marcum, J. A. (2010). The Virtuous Physician:The Role of Virtue in Medicine. New York : Springer. Pozgar, G. D. (2007). Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals. London : Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Read More