For this assessment, you will develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a healthcare professional.
Case Study: Confidentiality and Mental Health
Dr. Laura Simmons, a licensed clinical psychologist, has been treating Mr. Alex Turner, a 35-
year-old software engineer, for symptoms of severe depression and anxiety over the past six
months. Their sessions have been characterized by trust and open communication, with Alex
often sharing his deepest fears and concerns.
During a particularly intense session, Alex reveals to Dr. Simmons that he has been having
recurring thoughts of harming a colleague due to a longstanding professional rivalry and recent
personal conflicts. He describes detailed plans and expresses a genuine intent to act on these
thoughts.
Dr. Simmons is immediately faced with an ethical dilemma. She values the principle of
confidentiality, which is foundational to the therapeutic relationship. Alex has trusted her with his
innermost thoughts, and she knows that breaking this trust could potentially harm their
therapeutic alliance. However, she is also bound by the principles of beneficence and non-
maleficence. Beneficence compels her to act in the best interest of her patient and those around
him, while non-maleficence emphasizes the importance of “doing no harm.
1. 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.
-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.
2. 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. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
