ETHICS PAPER

Ethics paper

Ethics paper

Four Ethical Principles

The Four Principles are general guides that leave considerable room for judgement in specific cases are as follows:

(1)Respect for autonomy: respecting the decision-making capacities of autonomous persons; enabling individuals to make reasoned informed choices.

(2)Beneficence: this considers the balancing of benefits of treatment against the risks and costs; the healthcare professional should act in a way that benefits the patient

(3)Non maleficence: avoiding the causation of harm; the healthcare professional should not harm the patient. All treatment involves some harm, even if minimal, but the harm should not be disproportionate to the benefits of treatment.

(4)Justice: distributing benefits, risks and costs fairly; the notion that patients in similar positions should be treated in a similar manner.( Walter, 2003)

Case study

Mrs Y is 56 years old and has a learning disability. She is admitted to hospital with an ovarian cyst. The cyst is blocking her ureter and if left untreated will result in renal failure. Mrs Y would need an operation to remove the cyst. Mrs Y has indicated quite clearly that she does not want a needle inserted for the anaesthetic for the operation to remove the cyst- she is uncomfortable in a hospital setting and is frightened of needles.( Brody, 1988)

The clinician is concerned that if the cyst is not removed Mrs Y will develop renal failure and require dialysis which would involve the regular use of needles and be very difficult to carry out given her fear of needles and discomfort with hospitals. The anaesthetist is concerned that if Mrs Y does not comply with the procedure then she would need to be physically restrained. Mrs Y's niece visits her in the care home every other month. The niece is adamant that her aunt should receive treatment.

Ethical Issues Using The Four Principles Framework

(1)Respect for autonomy

The principle of ...