Discuss The Role Of Decision Making In Health And Social Care
Furthermore, the fact that someone with mental illness has been assessed and found lacking capacity or confused because of their medication does not necessarily mean that they cannot choose or make decisions. The service user’s way of thinking may be affected by the medication, but they will be able to make simple decisions. For example, they may choose whether to take sugar in their tea or not to and they may recognise which medication tastes bitter and want to avoid it. In Simon’s case, it seems that the healthcare professionals do not obtain consent any more because of his mental illness and age, which leads them to forget his rights by assuming the role of acting in his best interest. The healthcare professionals claim that they will be
doing their ‘beneficent duty’ of looking out for Simon’s best interests as well as it being ‘the right thing to do’ (Kinsinger, 2009). Butts and Rich (2012, p. 19) state that the deontology theory is the “study of duty,” it is concerned with people’s duties and rules, not with the outcome of their actions. It states that an individual’s wishes should be respected and consent gained for every treatment and care. Sometimes Simon wishes to stop taking his medication so that he can die. Healthcare is based upon integrity and service user involvement. Covertly medicating Simon could be classed as dishonest and unethical. The NMC (2015) code states that healthcare professionals should not act in any way that will cause services users not to trust or have no confidence in the profession. The NMC Standards for Medicines Management (2010, p. 32) state that “As a general principle, by disguising medication in food or drink, the patient is being led to believe they are not receiving medication, when in fact they are. The NMC would not consider this to be good practice. The registrant would need to be sure what they are doing is in the best interest of the service user and that they are accountable for this decision”. Covertly medicating a service user means that the service user is taking a foreign substance into their body without them knowing or giving permission.
doing their ‘beneficent duty’ of looking out for Simon’s best interests as well as it being ‘the right thing to do’ (Kinsinger, 2009). Butts and Rich (2012, p. 19) state that the deontology theory is the “study of duty,” it is concerned with people’s duties and rules, not with the outcome of their actions. It states that an individual’s wishes should be respected and consent gained for every treatment and care. Sometimes Simon wishes to stop taking his medication so that he can die. Healthcare is based upon integrity and service user involvement. Covertly medicating Simon could be classed as dishonest and unethical. The NMC (2015) code states that healthcare professionals should not act in any way that will cause services users not to trust or have no confidence in the profession. The NMC Standards for Medicines Management (2010, p. 32) state that “As a general principle, by disguising medication in food or drink, the patient is being led to believe they are not receiving medication, when in fact they are. The NMC would not consider this to be good practice. The registrant would need to be sure what they are doing is in the best interest of the service user and that they are accountable for this decision”. Covertly medicating a service user means that the service user is taking a foreign substance into their body without them knowing or giving permission.