Ethical Dilemmas 1-2 page paper - Essay Example

Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing (School) This particular paper serves to address and investigate two of the common ethical dilemmas that are associated with nursing research, and possible ways to avoid these particular issues. The two issues that are addressed by this paper include both conflicts of interest that may be present, as well as the pain to gain ratio.Keywords: moral, ethical dilemma, nursing, research, issues Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing ResearchEthics are defined as the moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior; it is a roadmap of principles that should be used to govern a society in all sectors of life, including social, political, and professional sectors.

Ethics are virtues that should be employed by all members of a society so that humanity is maintained, and the well-being of all persons within that society is upheld. Ethical dilemmas are the main challenge that people face while trying to do the right thing according to the society. (Buppert, C. 2008). These ethical dilemmas force people to weigh both the rights and wrongs and come up with a satisfactory resolution to the particular situation or scenario that may be present. Ethical dilemmas in nursing research must be addressed promptly in order to ensure patient safety, as well as a satisfactory end result of each situation for both parties.

One of the main ethical dilemmas faced in nursing research stems from a conflict of interest between the researcher and the patient. The researchers and the organization or organizations that fund the research are working to get the data that they need in order to complete their project, and with luck, be able to turn that research data into a lucrative product down the line. The patient, however, is interested in getting treatment first, and a resolution to the issue or illness that is afflicting them; both parties are concerned with getting results, but for different reasons, and one of those parties needs to know what does not work just as much as they need to know what does, while the other party is not necessarily interested in trying out procedures that may have a higher likelihood of failure and possible side effects.

Another aspect of a conflict of interest that arises is profit. The patient themselves benefits only if they are cured of their illness, or if their issue is alleviated, while the corporation, entity, or researcher will benefit in the form of a monetary aspect from the research itself.A second common ethical dilemma present in nursing research arises from the pain to gain ratio. The patient who has agreed to be a part of the experiment, or medical research may experience pain or discomfort as a result of this experiment or research.

The issue that must be addressed is how much pain, physical discomfort, or psychological discomfort is it acceptable to put the patient through in the name of research? The important thing to keep in mind when looking for the answer to this question is the fact that the patient may not benefit from the research and the experiments may fail to yield the necessary treatment or cure.One way to avoid these ethical dilemmas is to have all parties legally involved in the whole process, before, during, and after the research itself is being done (Campbell, A.

, & Groundwater-Smith, S. 2007). This ensures that the patients who are participating are fully aware and have a legal say in each step of the way, in terms of what they are and are not willing to do, and allows security for the organization itself by legally documenting the terms and conditions that the patient themselves is agreeing to. This also allows for compensation for the patient to be legally defined and clearly stated, to ensure that there is a comparable benefit to the patient themselves.

Ideally, the contract should also state the party that would be held responsible should the patient suffer as a result of the research, and what should be done if the research does not yield a cure, if anything. While many problems that may occur as a result of the nursing research versus patient aspects may be avoided by legally documenting the purpose of the research and the need for the patient to participate, the family of the patient should also sign the legal document explaining that they are aware of the patient’s choice to participate in the research, and they are aware of the agreement between the two parties, as well as the consequences stated in the contract between the researcher and the patient.

The patient must be aware of what they are agreeing to, and the patient should be assured that they will benefit from the research, which will be used to acquire a cure for the issue, illness, or affliction (Munhall, P. L. 2012). Through careful analysis of the situation, the type of research that needs to be done, and a legally binding agreement between all parties, it will be easier to avoid the ethical dilemmas that may be associated with nursing research in the future, as well as ensure that all parties will trust in the system itself.

ReferencesBuppert, C. (2008). Nurse practitioners business practice and legal guide. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett.Campbell, A., & Groundwater-Smith, S. (2007). An ethical approach to practitioner research: Dealing with issues and dilemmas in action research. London: Routledge.Munhall, P. L. (2012). Nursing research: A qualitative perspective. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.