Applying Ethical Principles
Overview of the Ethical Dilemma
A professional in healthcare goes through various situations where a decision must be made from complex dilemmas that oppose themselves. They usually involve weighing against other moral principles, including confidentiality, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. In the case of Dr. Laura Simmons, a clinical psychologist, an ethical dilemma so profound was about the disclosure of her patient, Mr. Alex Turner, in consideration of harming a colleague: Applying Ethical Principles.
Dr. Simmons is faced with the dilemma of upholding the ethical duty of confidentiality, which is considered a cornerstone of their therapeutic relationship, and her moral obligation to prevent harm to a third party. This paper will analyze the ethical dilemma using the ethical decision-making model, provide an in-depth analysis of the contributing factors, apply scholarly support, and propose a solution that respects ethical and professional responsibilities.
Case Study Selection and Summary
Selected Case Study: Confidentiality and Mental Health
The scenario selected in a case study is named Dr. Laura Simmons, a clinical psychologist licensed to treat depression and anxiety in Mr. Turner, a 35-year-old software engineer. At one point, Alex goes to Dr. Simmons for therapy, and he reveals to the doctor that he has been developing a preoccupation with how he could hurt a colleague whom he despises because of previous enmity both in personal and work settings.
After this, he goes on to explain his motives for the intended act, and in this case, he seems poised to execute the act. This places Dr. Simmons in an ethically challenging position where he can either support the principle of confidentiality, which is central to the effectiveness of any psychotherapeutic endeavor or violate this principle to protect a colleague.
Ethical Dilemma
The major ethical dilemma, in this case, centers on the duty to maintain confidentiality versus the obligation to protect other individuals from harm, concepts embraced by the moral principles of beneficence (acting in the best interest of the patient and others), and non-maleficence (not causing damage) (Cheraghi et al., 2023). Dr. Simmons has to decide whether to disclose information that may affect her therapeutic relationship with Alex or not to disclose it at the risk of harm being caused to the colleague.
Using the Ethical Decision-Making Model to Analyze the Case Study
Moral Awareness
Moral awareness is when a person realizes there is an issue that is ethical and has some potential consequences. Dr. Simmons’ moral awareness is triggered by Alex stating that he intends to harm a colleague. This is considered an ethical problem because the harm may be severe if nothing is done.
She has to think that any non-action on this threat can lead to critical injury to her colleague. Even some possible legal action being taken against her while breaching confidentiality will damage the therapeutic alliance with Alex (Rahmani et al., 2022).
Moral Judgment
Moral judgment is all about analyzing the options available and choosing which best aligns with the principles of morality. Here, Dr. Simmons has the following options:
Option 1: Maintain confidentiality and take no action. Alex will probably carry out his harmful intention.
Option 2: Breach confidentiality and take some action that would prevent harm by either informing the colleague or calling the police.
Given the potential for harm, the most ethical judgment would involve breaching confidentiality, as beneficence (acting in the best interest of others) and non-maleficence (avoiding harm) are core ethical duties that should take precedence in this case.
Ethical Behavior
Ethical behavior is action undertaken based on moral judgment. If Dr. Simmons decides to disclose confidentiality, she must do so responsibly and sensitively. This may include informing Alex that she intends to breach confidentiality and the reason behind this action, contacting the colleague or authorities to ensure the colleague’s safety, and making decisions and actions to increase corporate accountability and credibility of the document author. Notably, Dr. Simmons needs to be extremely careful so that the violation of Alex’s privacy rights has the fewest psychological effects.
Effectiveness of Communication Approaches in the Case Study
Discussion of Communication Approaches
Effective communication is crucial in navigating ethical dilemmas. Dr. Simmons’ approach involves active listening, empathy, and transparency in her interactions with Alex. By maintaining a calm and professional demeanor, she fosters a therapeutic environment that encourages open dialogue. When Alex discloses his harmful intentions, Dr. Simmons acknowledges his feelings without judgment, validating his trust in the therapeutic relationship.
Assessment of Communication Effectiveness
Dr. Simmons’ communication is effective in creating an atmosphere of trust that allows Alex to share sensitive information. However, when she decides to breach confidentiality, her ability to communicate the reasons for this decision becomes very important. If handled poorly, this conversation could cause Alex to disengage from therapy and make him avoid seeking help in the future.
To make her professional work more effective, Dr. Simmons should base ethical choices and use language that will reduce Alex’s psychological responses. Her assertiveness should be combined with the recognition that Alex has a right to speak up while the current measures are in place (Olejarczyk & Young, 2024).
Recommended Communication Approaches
Practitioners should utilize motivational interviewing and shared decision-making to further cooperation and understanding. Dr. Simmons could engage Alex in the decision-making process by explaining how the breach of confidentiality aligns with ethical principles and serves his best interests in the long run. The use of confrontational or dictatorial language must be avoided to protect the therapeutic alliance. Written material or visual aids can also be used to explain the reasons behind her actions so Alex can be fully aware of the process.
Consequences of Communication Approaches
Effective communication can build trust, encourage compliance, and promote a collaborative resolution to ethical dilemmas. On the other hand, poor communication carries the risk of alienating the patient, undermining the therapeutic relationship, and increasing psychological distress. The ability of Dr. Simmons to explain her decision with empathy and clarity is vital in balancing her ethical obligations with Alex’s emotional needs. In this case, effective communication may also create a benchmark for how ethical dilemmas can be solved in future therapeutic-related incidences (Tegegne et al., 2022).
Resolving the Ethical Dilemma by Applying Ethical Principles
Applying the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice provides a framework for resolving this dilemma. Although autonomy is viewed as the subject’s right to privacy, the concerns of beneficence and non-maleficence may well remain relevant. Consequently, to apply justice while disposing of a case the rights of the suspect; Alex will be balanced against the rights of the potential victim. These principles have to be written and implemented in a way that ensures there is no violation of professional ethics while at the same time meeting the imminent threat posed by Ales’ disclosure.
Proposed Solution
The proposed solution involves Dr. Simmons breaching confidentiality to notify the appropriate parties while taking steps to minimize harm to Alex. This includes consultation, transparency, and action. Consultation involves seeking guidance from legal or ethical advisors to ensure compliance with professional and legal standards. Second, transparency requires informing Alex about her decision and the reasons behind it, emphasizing her obligation to protect others while supporting his therapeutic journey.
Lastly, action involves notifying the potential victim or authorities, depending on the immediacy and severity of the threat. This solution complies with ethical standards, providing safety while still maintaining the therapeutic relationship at its best. Besides, this way, Dr. Simmons will not violate mandatory reporting laws, though reducing potential emotional harm to Alex.
Impact on Professional Relationships
Breaching confidentiality may strain Dr. Simmons’ relationship with Alex. However, using the argument that this is necessary for safety can rectify the negative perception of consumers. Coping with a professional collaborating with social services or legal consultants can bring added value and remind her of the ethical norms that let her act in such a manner. It also shows professionalism and safety for the public, besides showing the effectiveness of the Lloyds of London’s approach to teamwork.
Likelihood of Fostering Collaboration
Involving a multidisciplinary team fosters a collaborative approach to addressing the ethical dilemma. This allows the approach to include several methods to obtain different viewpoints, thus achieving a well-rounded solution that correlates with professional codes of ethics. It also adds to responsibility since all involved parties are responsible for the outcome. In addition, such an approach will contribute to creating conditions for Alex’s further organizational and institutional support to avoid the risks of derealization, which has increased after the experiment.
Conclusion
The predicament in which Dr. Simmons is embroiled involves confidentiality versus the duty to protect. Using the ethical decision-making model, it can be determined that in this scenario, a violation of confidence is the most ethical decision. Dr. Simmons should disclose as transparent, empathetic, and professional as possible to minimize the damage her decision may have on the therapeutic relationship.
References
Cheraghi, R., Valizadeh, L., Zamanzadeh, V., Hassankhani, H., & Jafarzadeh, A. (2023). Clarification of ethical principle of the beneficence in nursing care: An integrative review. BMC Nursing, 22(89). https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-023-01246-4
Olejarczyk, J. P., & Young, M. (2024, May 6). Patient rights and ethics. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538279/
Rahmani, P., Behshid, M., Farshad, M. S., Mousavi, S., & Tavani, F. M. (2022). Moral awareness and its relationship with moral sensitivity among Iranian nursing students: A basis for nursing ethics education. Nursing Open, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1344
Tegegne, M. D., Melaku, M. S., Shimie, A. W., Hunegnaw, D. D., Legese, M. G., Ejigu, T. A., Mengestie, N. D., Zemene, W., Zeleke, T., & Chanie, A. F. (2022). Health professionals’ knowledge and attitude towards patient confidentiality and associated factors in a resource-limited setting: A cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Ethics, 23(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00765-0
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Question 
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.
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 in the 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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 like:
- Assessment 3 Example [PDF]
Applying Ethical Principles
Additional Requirements
Your assessment should also meet the following requirements:
- Length: 3–5 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page and reference page.
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
- APA tutorial: Use the APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] for guidance.
- Written communication: Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- References: Integrate information from outside sources to include at least two references (the case study and an academic peer-reviewed journal article) and three in-text citations within the paper.
- APA format: Follow current APA guidelines for in-text citation of outside sources in the body of your paper and also on the reference page.
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