Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues
Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues
Ethical Dilemma
Within healthcare, practitioners often have to make difficult decisions regarding the care of their patients. This could be to do with giving or withdrawing treatment, or as simple as sharing risk information (Glover, 1997). Ultimately, the practitioner must be able to rationalise any decision they have made (Morrison, 2009). With this in mind, the following assignment will draw upon an ethical dilemma and explore how theoretical perspectives can be utilised within the decision making process. Therefore it will also be pertinent to draw upon the law, and how this influences actions within health care. To facilitate this discussion, I will identify a scenario from practice that has presented an ethical dilemma. Due to the reflective nature of this assignment, I feel it appropriate to proceed in first person narrative (Webb, 1992). However, I must point out that, in accordance with university and professional guidance, the confidentiality of patients, colleagues and services will be protected throughout (Nursing and midwifery council, 2008). I feel it reasonable at this point to define the point of interest for this essay. ‘Ethics’ is an important term within health care (Edwards, 2009). As Johnstone et al (2008) states, ethics is about doing the right thing. Though this is not always clear and the answer not always readily available. Therefore, one must rely on experience, inherent knowledge, instinct. There have been many theories that attempt to take a systematic approach to reaching a decision from an ambiguous situation, and these date back to BC350, with the work of Aristotle (Cohen, 2000). Some of these will be explored and analysed in relation to the chosen scenario, in the hope that some recommendations can be identified.
The case I am going to draw upon for this essay is that of 'Mary' and her carers. Mary has been known to mental health services for around three years, and is currently
Ethical Dilemma
Within healthcare, practitioners often have to make difficult decisions regarding the care of their patients. This could be to do with giving or withdrawing treatment, or as simple as sharing risk information (Glover, 1997). Ultimately, the practitioner must be able to rationalise any decision they have made (Morrison, 2009). With this in mind, the following assignment will draw upon an ethical dilemma and explore how theoretical perspectives can be utilised within the decision making process. Therefore it will also be pertinent to draw upon the law, and how this influences actions within health care. To facilitate this discussion, I will identify a scenario from practice that has presented an ethical dilemma. Due to the reflective nature of this assignment, I feel it appropriate to proceed in first person narrative (Webb, 1992). However, I must point out that, in accordance with university and professional guidance, the confidentiality of patients, colleagues and services will be protected throughout (Nursing and midwifery council, 2008). I feel it reasonable at this point to define the point of interest for this essay. ‘Ethics’ is an important term within health care (Edwards, 2009). As Johnstone et al (2008) states, ethics is about doing the right thing. Though this is not always clear and the answer not always readily available. Therefore, one must rely on experience, inherent knowledge, instinct. There have been many theories that attempt to take a systematic approach to reaching a decision from an ambiguous situation, and these date back to BC350, with the work of Aristotle (Cohen, 2000). Some of these will be explored and analysed in relation to the chosen scenario, in the hope that some recommendations can be identified.
The case I am going to draw upon for this essay is that of 'Mary' and her carers. Mary has been known to mental health services for around three years, and is currently
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