Develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a healthcare professional by applying ethical principles. Describe the issues and a possible solution in a 3-5pg paper.
Whether you are a nurse, a public health professional, a health care administrator, or in another role in the health care field, you must base your decisions on a set of ethical principles and values. Your decisions must be fair, equitable, and defensible. Each discipline has established a professional code of ethics to guide ethical behavior. In this assessment, you will practice working through an ethical dilemma as described in a case study. Your practice will help you develop a method for formulating ethical decisions.
The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. At a minimum, be sure to address each point. In addition, you are encouraged to review the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed.
For this assessment, develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health care professional. In your assessment:
Select one of the case studies presented After you have selected one of the ethical dilemmas from below, return to the detailed instructions in the courseroom to complete your assessment.
Case Study: Organ Transplant Prioritization
Lila Rodriguez, a talented 29-year-old graphic designer, has been battling liver disease for
several years. Her condition has recently deteriorated, and she now finds herself in dire need of
a liver transplant. Lila’s vibrant spirit and determination to recover are evident to all who meet
her. However, her medical history reveals a struggle with substance abuse, particularly alcohol,
which contributed to her current condition.
Dr. Omar Khan, the transplant coordinator at Unity Health Hospital, is well-acquainted with Lila’s
case. He’s been impressed by her commitment to recovery, noting her active participation in
rehabilitation programs and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings over the past two years. However,
he’s also aware that the hospital’s transplant committee might view her history of substance
abuse as a potential risk factor. The limited availability of donor organs means that the
committee must prioritize recipients based on a set of criteria, including the likelihood of post-
transplant success and the potential risk of organ rejection or failure.
Dr. Khan is caught in an ethical quandary. The principle of justice demands that he ensures a
fair and unbiased allocation of the limited organ resources. Every patient on the transplant list
has a pressing need, and the criteria are designed to maximize the success rate of transplants.
However, the principle of beneficence pushes Dr. Khan to advocate for the well-being of his
patient, Lila. He believes in her commitment to a healthier lifestyle post-transplant and feels she
deserves a chance at a new lease on life.
Case Study: Medical Treatment Against Cultural Beliefs
John Blackrock, a 50-year-old renowned Native American artist known for his intricate beadwork
and paintings, is diagnosed with an early-stage form of lung cancer at the Evergreen Health
Clinic. The diagnosis comes as a shock to John, who has always led a healthy lifestyle, deeply
rooted in the traditions and practices of his ancestors.
Upon discussing treatment options, Dr. Emily Stone, a young oncologist with a passion for
patient-centered care, recommends a combination of surgery followed by chemotherapy. She
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believes this approach offers John the best chance of full recovery. However, John, deeply
connected to his cultural roots, expresses his wish to forgo the conventional treatment. Instead,
he wants to seek healing through traditional Native American practices, which include herbal
medicine, spiritual rituals, and guidance from tribal elders.
Dr. Stone, while respectful of cultural diversity, is deeply concerned. She’s seen patients with
similar diagnoses recover fully with the right medical interventions. She fears that without timely
treatment, John’s condition might worsen, making his prognosis grim. She’s also aware that
John is a significant figure in his community, and his choices might influence others.
Dr. Stone, recognizing the principle of autonomy, understands that the final decision rests with
John. However, she also feels the weight of beneficence, wanting the best possible outcome for
her patient.
Note: The case study may not supply all of the information you need. In such cases, you should consider a variety of possibilities and infer potential conclusions. However, please be sure to identify any assumptions or speculations you make.
Summarize the facts in the selected case study and use the three components of an ethical decision-making model to analyze an ethical problem or issue and the factors that contributed to it.
Identify which case study you selected and briefly summarize the facts surrounding it. Identify the problem or issue that presents an ethical dilemma or challenge and describe that dilemma or challenge.
Identify who is involved or affected by the ethical problem or issue.
Access the Ethical Decision-Making Model media piece and use the three components of the ethical decision-making model (moral awareness, moral judgment, and ethical behavior) to analyze the ethical issues.
Apply the three components outlined in the Ethical Decision-Making Model media.
Analyze the factors that contributed to the ethical problem or issue identified in the case study.
Describe the factors that contributed to the problem or issue and explain how they contributed.
Apply academic peer-reviewed journal articles relevant to an ethical problem or issue as evidence to support an analysis of the case.
In addition to the readings provided, use the Capella library to locate at least one academic peer-reviewed journal article relevant to the problem or issue that you can use to support your analysis of the situation. The NHS-FPX4000: Developing a Health Care Perspective Library Guide will help you locate appropriate references. You will select at least one current scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles published during the past 3–5 years that relate to your topic.
Cite and apply key principles from the journal article as evidence to support your critical thinking and analysis of the ethical problem or issue.
Review the Think Critically About Source Quality resource.
Assess the credibility of the information source.
Assess the relevance of the information source.
Discuss the effectiveness of the communication approaches present in a case study.
Describe how the health care professional in the case study communicated with others.
Assess instances where the professional communicated effectively or ineffectively.
Explain which communication approaches should be used and which ones should be avoided.
Describe the consequences of using effective and non-effective communication approaches.
Discuss the effectiveness of the approach used by a professional to deal with problems or issues involving ethical practice in a case study.
Describe the actions taken in response to the ethical dilemma or issue presented in the case study.
Summarize how well the professional managed professional responsibilities and priorities to resolve the problem or issue in the case.
Discuss the key lessons this case provides for health care professionals.
Apply ethical principles to a possible solution to an ethical problem or issue described in a case study.
Describe the proposed solution.
Discuss how the approach makes this professional more effective or less effective in building relationships across disciplines within his or her organization.
Discuss how likely it is the proposed solution will foster professional collaboration.
Write clearly and logically, with correct use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
Apply the principles of effective composition.
Determine the proper application of the rules of grammar and mechanics.
Write using APA style for in-text citations, quotes, and references.
Determine the proper application of APA formatting requirements and scholarly writing standards.
Integrate information from outside sources into academic writing by appropriately quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, following APA style.
