Resolving Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare- Applying Ethical Principles to Professional Decision-Making

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare- Applying Ethical Principles to Professional Decision-Making

Facts in the Selected Case Study

A Case Study on Organ Transplant Prioritization of Lilly Rodriguez, a 29-year-old graphical artist, has been facing life-threatening liver disease. Her alcohol abuse history is among the causes that put her at risk. As the transplant coordinator at Unity Health Hospital, Dr. Omar Khan becomes challenged with an ethical quandary regarding organ transplants. The principle of fairness as an inequality is apparent, as it requires the fair transplant of organs between many patients wanting transplants. On the contrary, Dr. Khan undergoes a moral dilemma where he recognizes the fact that beneficence urges him to support Lila in her quest for recovery, hence likely a possible post-transplant success (Khursheed et al., 2019).

Several parties are affected by this ethical situation, including Lila Rodriguez and Dr. Omar Khan, who are the transplantation coordinators and, therefore, personally involved in the decision-making process for allocation. Besides, the position of the organ transplant committee at Unity Health Hospital is of exceptional importance. The committee develops the priorities and the organ recipient selection criteria as well as determines who, in the end, will be granted a transplant.

Applying the ethical decision-making model to this case, three key components can be identified: moral awareness, moral judgment, and ethical conduct skills. Dr. Khan displays moral comprehension in recognizing that Lila’s case has ethical wrongdoing involved in it, in which Altruistic principles and fairness in organ allocation conflict with the optimism for the well-being of a person (Khursheed et al., 2019). His ethical consideration is all about dealing with the possible risks and benefits that the surgeon may face and his conviction of whether Lila will comply with the needed recovery and will be successful once she becomes healthier (Khursheed et al., 2019). Lastly, Dr. Khan’s ethical actions must be commensurate with ethical principles, operating under transparency and fairness principles while promoting and speaking out for his patients and Lila’s best interests.

Applying Academic Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Relevant to an Ethical Problem

The chosen article is by Haahr et al. (2020), which examined 15 original empirical studies on nurses’ experiences with ethical challenges in their daily jobs, revealing a wide range of perspectives on the subject. The experiences focused on three key areas of nursing practice: nurse-patient interaction, organizational frameworks, and teamwork with colleagues. The study revealed a couple of ethical dilemmas the nurses encounter and provided a clear baseline on how to go through this dilemma (Haahr et al., 2020). In a case scenario of a hospital, five themes were identified: ambivalence towards treatment and care, suffering due to lack of ethical awareness, dilemmas caused by nurses’ limited autonomy in treatment, conflicts with physicians, and conflicts with institutional policies (Haahr et al., 2020). In this, Dr. Omar Khan has to maximize the outcome of the procedure of the patient to ensure that the struggle and determination of the patient is achieved without harming him

Navigating in disagreement, the articles provide that a doctor ought to be an advocate for the patient and have a strong, convincing power. Dr. Omar Khan is aware that the hospital’s transplant committee might view her history of substance abuse as a potential risk factor and overturn the process for allocation to other recipients; hence, she ought to have strong advocacy for the patient (Haahr et al., 2020). Nonmaleficence entails prioritizing actions that prevent harm, ensuring the patient’s best interests, and fostering their well-being. With consideration of including the likelihood of post-transplant success and the potential risk of organ rejection or failure, the doctor ought to carry out the procedure without a thought of the failed prognosis but to maximize the patient’s well-being. Notably, to confirm the article’s validity is that firstly, it was published within the past 5 years. Further, the article clearly shows the ethical dilemmas with regard to patient-centeredness, which is a significant factor in this case study (Haahr et al., 2020).

 The Effectiveness of the Communication Approaches Present in a Case Study

As is in the case study, Dr. Omar Khan gave a clear demonstration of his excellent communication skills by interacting with his colleagues, a patient, Lila Rodríguez, her family, and the transplant committee in a caring, clear and proper manner (Anderson et al., 2019). He attracted both their confidence by solving their problems and their interest in participating in making decisions. In addition, Dr. Khan interacted with the transplant committee directly, convincing them of Lila’s situation, telling them about her, and respectfully advocating for her.

Communication values were shown in Dr. Khan’s approach when he talked to them with full transparency about Lila’s diagnoses, treatments, and organ allocation to them and their families. He made sure that the patients, their family members or friends, and even the public were aware of the situation and that they were involved in the decision-making process. He did this by providing good explanations and addressing their concerns in a calm and empathetic manner (Burgener, 2020). Apart from that, Dr. Khan demonstrated good interpersonal skills and was able to make an allocation claim when addressing the transplant committee, considering the fairness of the allocation of organs but advocating on behalf of Lila.

Subsequently, active communication means using strategies like openness, empathy, and partnership. It is Dr. Khan’s responsibility to give accurate and straightforward information to Lila and her family and make them fully aware of the disease she is suffering and the principles of organ allocation (Ernstmeyer & Christman, 2021). Communication techniques that should be avoided include refusing to inform patients, acting dismissive to their concerns, or decision-making single-handedly without involving them (Rn) et al., 2021).

The effects of successful communication approaches are the cultivation of trust, boosting patient satisfaction, and resulting in better health. Open and peer communication, which displays compassion and cooperation, helps restore trust and confidence in the healthcare workers and ensures the success of the patient’s treatment, which in turn gives patients satisfaction and adherence to the treatment plan (Tiwary et al., 2019). However, to the contrary, medical providers may use ineffective methods of communication, which include disregarding, withholding information, or making unilateral decisions, which consequently can damage trust, bring about misunderstandings, and cause general dissatisfaction among patients (Tiwary et al., 2019).

Effectiveness of the Approach Used

He acknowledged that there is a conflict between the concepts of beneficence and justice since, while there is a need for Lila’s health, the situation calls for an equal distribution of the limited organ supply. Dr. Khan’s compassionate and open communication with Lila and her family is evidenced by the fact that he informed them of Lila’s medical condition and made sure that family members were included in the decision-making process (Ewuoso et al., 2021). Furthermore, Dr. Khan made an impeccable fight for Lila’s case, presenting her petition to the committee in a professional way and showing his advocacy for Lila for a liver transplant.

By bringing up this issue, Dr. Khan avoids giving any interpretation and concentrates on the key duties and priorities required to appropriately handle the ethical dilemma. Using the ethical principles of justice and beneficence simultaneously, he secured the only legitimate ground for transplanting organs as he held care of the patient dearly as well (Ewuoso et al., 2021). In part because of the resources provided by the healthcare system, the doctor’s actions demonstrated his moral commitment to upholding ethical norms and to providing for his patient’s medical needs.

The first thing to take away from this case study is how important it is to balance moral values with other regulations when making decisions—especially when there are competing interests and limited resources. Healthcare professionals have to handle assertively complex ethical problems, keeping in mind transparency, empathy, and professionalism so that patient welfare is in the proper place. Moreover, the implications of multiple stakeholders and collaborators about ethical problems in healthcare provision are further outlined by the case. Through this case, a healthcare professional may translate the knowledge acquired in such a way that they would be better prepared for conflicting ethical decisions and uphold professional standards (Ewuoso et al., 2021).

Application of the Ethical Principle

The ethical problem discussed in the case study is addressed by creating a multi-factorial selection process for organ transplantation. This intervention greatly highlights the combining of existing medical and psychosocial perspectives while appraising transplant eligibility. A protocol developed by medical professionals would help to evaluate psychosocial factors that, for instance, include social support, mental health, substance abuse history, or adherence to rehabilitation.

The proposed implementation of the solution mentioned above would allow Dr. Omar Khan to gain more prominence and develop stronger academic bonds with his colleagues across disciplines in the organization. Through his advocacy for an all-inclusive clinical-psychosocial evaluation procedure that is capable of taking into account both medical and psychological determinants, Dr. Khan makes a grand display of his dedication to wholesome patient care and integration with colleagues in other healthcare facilities (Warren & Warren, 2023).

An effective solution is emphasizing detailed screening for all intended candidates, thereby ensuring proper collaboration among healthcare providers’ groups. Establishing a standardized psychological factor assessment has an advantageous effect on the entire process of pre-transplant evaluation. This leads to the cooperation among transplant surgeons, psychologists, social workers, and addiction professionals to develop an approach to the management of the disorder. The solution concept tries to broaden perspectives on the impact of psychosocial aspects of post-transplant rather than eliminate any specialization of one discipline from the other, which, according to Sandal et al. (2021), helps promote trust and mutual understanding.

References

Anderson, R. J., Bloch, S., Armstrong, M., Stone, P. C., & Low, J. T. (2019). Communication between healthcare professionals and relatives of patients approaching the end-of-life: A systematic review of qualitative evidence. Palliative Medicine, 33(8), 926–941. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216319852007

Burgener, A. M. (2020). Enhancing communication to improve patient safety and to increase patient satisfaction. The Health Care Manager, 39(3), 128–132. https://doi.org/10.1097/hcm.0000000000000298

Ernstmeyer, K., & Christman, E. (Eds.). (2021). Chapter 2 Communication. Nursing Fundamentals – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK591817/#:~:text=Jargon%3A%20Avoid%20using%20medical%20terminology

Ewuoso, C., Hall, S., & Dierickx, K. (2021). How do healthcare professionals respond to ethical challenges regarding information management? A review of empirical studies. Global Bioethics, 32(1), 67–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/11287462.2021.1909820

Haahr, A., Norlyk, A., Martinsen, B., & Dreyer, P. (2020). Nurses experiences of ethical dilemmas: A review. Nursing Ethics, 27(1), 258–272. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733019832941

Khursheed, U., Sehar, S., & Afzal, M. (2019). Importance of ethical decision making; application of James Rest Model. Saudi Journal of Nursing and Health Care, 02(12), 427–430. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjnhc.2019.v02i12.007

Sandal, S., Chen, T., & Cantarovich, M. (2021). Evaluation of transplant candidates with a history of nonadherence: An opinion piece. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease, 8, 205435812199013. https://doi.org/10.1177/2054358121990137

Tiwary, A., Rimal, A., Paudyal, B., Sigdel, K. R., & Basnyat, B. (2019). Poor communication by health care professionals may lead to life-threatening complications: Examples from two case reports. Wellcome Open Research, 4(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15042.1

Warren, J. L., & Warren, J. S. (2023). The case for understanding interdisciplinary relationships in health care. Ochsner Journal, 23(2), 94–97.

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Assessment 3
Applying Ethical Principles

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 paper of 3-5 pages.

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Introduction
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.

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare- Applying Ethical Principles to Professional Decision-Making

Instructions
Note: 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 healthcare professional. In your assessment:

Select one of the case studies presented in the Assessment 03 Supplement: Applying Ethical Principles [PDF] Download Assessment 03 Supplement: Applying Ethical Principles [PDF]resource.
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. https://media.capella.edu/CourseMedia/nhs4000element18816/wrapper.asp
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 article published during the past 3–5 years that relates 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 healthcare 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 healthcare 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.
Example Assessment: You may use the following to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look lik