HCS 545: Ethical Health Care Issues
Ethical Health Care Issues Paper
HCS/ 545
May 19, 2014
Ethical Health Care Issues Paper Ethical health care topics vary in the news and media currently in the healthcare field. Many health care issues can involve the patient’s care, or the policies set forth by healthcare regulatory agencies. In many instances, ethical issues can arise during a patient’s treatment when religious or cultural discrepancies arise that would affect the manner in which the patient receives their care. Ethical issues such as religious beliefs that may cause the patient to decline life-saving treatment can create conflict between not only the patient’s personal values, but also those of the caregiver proving treatment. …show more content…
Blood transfusions can be provided to an individual for many reasons including accidents, critical illness, or during surgery. Additionally, all healthcare organizations should have a code of ethics regarding blood donation to assist in dealing with conflicting ethical dilemmas among a patient and medical professionals. According to ISBT (2000) “patients should be informed of the known risks and benefits of blood transfusion and/or alternative therapies and have the right to accept or refuse the procedure. Any valid advance directive should respect” (p.1). In some cases a patient cannot cognitively give consent, so medical providers should give treatment based on the severity of the medical crisis, and clinical need. According to the ISBT (2000) “blood transfusion practices established by national or international health bodies and other agencies competent and authorized to do so should be in compliance with this code of ethics” (p. …show more content…
Alternatively, the four ethical principals can be applied to the case of the refusal of blood transfusions and a given cultural group. A patient who is competent in their decision making always overrides the physician’s choice for the patient. Macklin (2003) states that “the respect for persons principle mandates that physicians should comply with the expressed wishes of a competent adult patient even if the predicted consequences are unfavorable or grave” (p. 275-280). No maleficence and beneficence are ethical principles that could be used to contradict the patient’s ethical rights in specific situations. Macklin (2009) states that the “principle of no maleficence requires physicians to avoid harm, whenever possible, so withholding a proven, beneficial treatment is likely to have the consequence of producing harm” (275-280). The next type of ethical principle, beneficence explains that the physician can increase benefits, and reduce detriment to the patient can also be useful when the clinician wishes to give blood to the patient even when the patient opposed the transfusion (Macklin, 2009). In the case of the blood transfusion scenario, all four principles cannot be adequately used to solve ethical issues in the healthcare organization. Macklin (2009) states
HCS/ 545
May 19, 2014
Ethical Health Care Issues Paper Ethical health care topics vary in the news and media currently in the healthcare field. Many health care issues can involve the patient’s care, or the policies set forth by healthcare regulatory agencies. In many instances, ethical issues can arise during a patient’s treatment when religious or cultural discrepancies arise that would affect the manner in which the patient receives their care. Ethical issues such as religious beliefs that may cause the patient to decline life-saving treatment can create conflict between not only the patient’s personal values, but also those of the caregiver proving treatment. …show more content…
Blood transfusions can be provided to an individual for many reasons including accidents, critical illness, or during surgery. Additionally, all healthcare organizations should have a code of ethics regarding blood donation to assist in dealing with conflicting ethical dilemmas among a patient and medical professionals. According to ISBT (2000) “patients should be informed of the known risks and benefits of blood transfusion and/or alternative therapies and have the right to accept or refuse the procedure. Any valid advance directive should respect” (p.1). In some cases a patient cannot cognitively give consent, so medical providers should give treatment based on the severity of the medical crisis, and clinical need. According to the ISBT (2000) “blood transfusion practices established by national or international health bodies and other agencies competent and authorized to do so should be in compliance with this code of ethics” (p. …show more content…
Alternatively, the four ethical principals can be applied to the case of the refusal of blood transfusions and a given cultural group. A patient who is competent in their decision making always overrides the physician’s choice for the patient. Macklin (2003) states that “the respect for persons principle mandates that physicians should comply with the expressed wishes of a competent adult patient even if the predicted consequences are unfavorable or grave” (p. 275-280). No maleficence and beneficence are ethical principles that could be used to contradict the patient’s ethical rights in specific situations. Macklin (2009) states that the “principle of no maleficence requires physicians to avoid harm, whenever possible, so withholding a proven, beneficial treatment is likely to have the consequence of producing harm” (275-280). The next type of ethical principle, beneficence explains that the physician can increase benefits, and reduce detriment to the patient can also be useful when the clinician wishes to give blood to the patient even when the patient opposed the transfusion (Macklin, 2009). In the case of the blood transfusion scenario, all four principles cannot be adequately used to solve ethical issues in the healthcare organization. Macklin (2009) states