Complete the case analysis. Incorporate the feedback you received and modify Step I-III accordingly. Then, complete Steps IV-V.
I. Respond to the ‘sense’ or feeling that something is wrong
II. Gather the information/assessment
III. Identify the ethical problem/moral diagnosis
IV. Seek a resolution
V. Determine a course of action
VI. Reflection (see explanation below)
First, carefully review the decision-model in Module 2. After doing so, using the decision model as the basis, thoroughly complete all six steps using one of the given cases.
Please clearly label each step accordingly, so the steps may be easily identified.
In Step I, you will identifying the tension of the case, which is essentially the moral dilemma. A moral dilemma occurs when there are ethical reasons to take different set of actions, but it is not possible for you to take them all. In the example case given, a tension exists between the fact that Mr. Dossey appears to have metastatic cancer, yet he refuses additional treatment, even additional testing. In such a situation, a doctor may wonder if the patient has enough information to make an informed decision that may have catastrophic results. This gives rise to a moral dilemma: What is the best course of action to take when a competent patient, with the support of his family, defies critical medical advice?
In Step II, I don’t want you to simply regurgitate the facts as stated in the case; instead, I want you to concentrate on exploring the unstated facts such as clinical concerns, prognosis, treatment options, cost of procedures, legal matters and so forth. This means you will have to do additional research about the case, which makes for excellent practice since it will force you to start thinking outside the box! As a result, you are required to use, at minimum, three outside sources.
In Step III, explore the ethical issues that the moral dilemma identified in Step I raises. In addition, you will need to use the relevant ethical theories, the bioethical principles, and the theories of justice to analyze and assess the involved issues.
In Step IV, identify three or more distinct options for action. Then, adjudicate the pros and cons of these options by using the ethical perspectives and the assigned course readings.
In Step V, out of the options covered in Step IV, state what option you would choose and explain why. Look at this as the option you would recommend if you were working with a team of medical professionals on an ethics committee.
Then, conclude with a short reflection, which should be listed as Step VI. In this reflection, answer the following questions: Was the decision model useful? Why or why not?
