NHS-FPX 4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Applying Ethical Principles
Healthcare professionals must often consider ethical dilemmas and moral values when making decisions. The four fundamental principles of healthcare ethics are autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, and they play a crucial role in this process. These principles are crucial benchmarks for ethical and equitable decision-making, guiding medical practitioners and healthcare administrators when navigating complex and dynamic patient care situations (Manderius et al., 2023). By following these ethical guidelines, healthcare professionals can ensure that decisions are made in patients’ best interests while upholding professional integrity. This framework balances patient needs, societal expectations, and medical possibilities.
Overview of the Case Study
Dr. Laura Simmons, a licensed clinical psychologist, has been providing therapy to Alex Turner, a 35-year-old software engineer grappling with severe depression and anxiety. Throughout their six-month sessions, they’ve cultivated a rapport built on trust, enabling Alex to confide his deepest apprehensions and worries. However, in a recent therapy session, Alex discloses troubling thoughts regarding causing harm to a coworker. He explains that this is fueled by a longstanding professional rivalry that recent personal disputes have exacerbated. Alex even shares a concrete plan and genuinely intends to carry out this plan.
Dr. Simmons is in a difficult situation where the principle of confidentiality and the ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence challenge a physician’s ability to maintain a trusting relationship with their patient. While Dr. Simmons must respect her patient’s confidentiality, she also must protect others from harm. This balancing act requires her to consider the broader implications of her patient’s revelations and act in her patient’s and the community’s best interests. The decision she must make is not just a professional judgment call but also a moral one that could impact the safety and well-being of everyone involved.
Analysis of Ethical Issues in the Case Study
Dr. Laura Simmons faces an ethical dilemma regarding the confidentiality of her patient, Alex Turner, who has revealed intentions to harm a colleague. While confidentiality is crucial, it conflicts with the psychologist’s duty to protect others when a patient like Alex discloses harmful intentions. Dr. Simmons must balance the need to maintain the therapeutic relationship with the need to prevent harm, acting in the patient’s best interests while avoiding harm to him and others. This situation extends the psychologist’s responsibility to the community’s well-being, raising broader societal and moral implications (Schofield et al., 2021).
Scholarly Insights: Analyzing the Case Study
Three recent peer-reviewed journal articles can support the analysis of Dr. Simmons’ case, each shedding light on different aspects of the ethical dilemma she faces: In the context of Dr. Simmons’ case, a study from BMC Nursing on the ethical considerations of psychiatric mental health nurses provides relevant insights. This study highlights the importance of balancing patient autonomy with the safety of others, a crucial factor in Dr. Simmons’ dilemma. It underscores the need for healthcare professionals to engage in careful ethical considerations, determining which ethical theories and principles take precedence in specific situations. The study reflects on the evolving nature of modern healthcare, which increasingly values patient autonomy yet emphasizes the necessity of making ethically sound decisions that may involve difficult choices, like implementing coercive measures in certain cases (Jansen, 2022). This research supports the analysis of Dr. Simmons’ situation by illustrating the complex interplay of ethical principles in healthcare decision-making, especially in scenarios involving potential harm to others.
Another article from BMC Psychiatry discusses the ethical challenges related to confidentiality and How families can get involved in the treatment of individuals who suffer from psychotic disorders. It highlights the difficulties mental health professionals face in balancing confidentiality with the need for family involvement, especially when patients are competent yet refuse to involve their families. This research is pertinent to Dr. Simmons’ case as it underscores the complexities of confidentiality in mental health care, particularly in situations where information sharing can have significant implications for patient care and safety.