NURS FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles
Applying Ethical Principles
Healthcare professionals must adhere to four ethical health principles while performing their duties. The foundation of medical practice is based on these principles. It is hoped that they would serve as a roadmap for personnel to follow when faced with difficult situations (Guidolin et al., 2021).
Overview of the Case Study
Dr. Angela Kerr is the new pediatrician of the smith’s daughter Ana, and she deals with the process of vaccination of their Child. Since Ana’s birth, her parents have bonded well and want to nurture her naturally. Autism rates are rising, which they say is a vaccination risk. Their new pediatrician, Dr. Angela Kerr, listens to the Smiths’ research, including online mommy blogs that outline how immunizations may have caused autism. The Smiths opt against vaccinating Ana despite medical advice. Dr. Kerr urges that Ana be completely vaccinated, despite vaccinations’ recent criticism. Dr. Kerr says immunizations have saved millions of children’s lives and reduced child mortality over the previous century. ).
This approach encourages the public and healthcare practitioners to report bad vaccination reactions, allowing the government to monitor their safety. No autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or developmental disorder vaccine has been proven safe. Many studies have demonstrated that thimerasol-containing vaccinations do not raise autism risk. Dr. Kerr cautions the Smiths that some children’s immune systems are impaired by hereditary illnesses or cancer treatment. Such children may not be vaccinable. Some children are too young for vaccines. Dr. Kerr concludes that most states mandate immunizations before children may enter school. State-specific situations allow parents to forgo vaccinations. Jenna and Chris Smith agree they understood Dr. Kerr’s explanation but do not want Ana vaccinated. Dr. Kerr is confused.
Case Study Analysis in the light of Ethical Principles
In Ana’s case study, the main factor leading to the ethical issue is the negation of her vaccination due to its effect on her body later on. When Dr. Kerr noticed their parents’ concerns and tried to convince them, the doctor felt that it was their duty to make parents aware of its usefulness. She also explains the risk and the conditions in which it occurs. During the conversation, the she makes an effort to provide an objective opinion by referencing research studies. Furthermore, herd immunity and VPI were being told to Ana’s parents. On the other side, Ana’s parents believe that the vaccination causes autism in their daughter. Dr. Kerr is worried about their health. Ana, in the future, without vaccination, might have health problems. Vaccination rates among 2-year-olds have doubled since 2001, reaching 1.3% of infants born in 2015. Despite the relatively tiny number, the transformation is evident (Hill et al., 2017).
Ethical Decision-Making Model
When confronted with an ethical issue, moral judgment entails choosing between the right and erroneous course of action. Ethical behavior results from moral awareness and moral judgment (Opsahl et al., 2020). A person’s ethical behavior is defined as taking the correct course of action when faced with a challenge. Dr. Kerr’s concerns about Ana’s vaccination reflect the doctor’s moral consciousness. When Dr. Kerr tried to persuade Ana’s parents to vaccinate her, it reflected his moral judgment as a pediatrics doctor. When confronted with a challenging situation, one must choose the right path of action to be ethical.
The fact that Dr. Kerr is aware of the circumstances surrounding Ana’s health shows that she has moral awareness. Dr. Kerr’s moral judgment is reflected in his decision to persuade Ana’s parents to seek medical attention for her. Dr. Kerr’s actions define an ethical response to a dilemma. Dr. Kerr should adhere to his professional experience. Dr. Kerr meticulously analyzes decisions as a healthcare practitioner to ensure that their patient receives the finest care and advice possible. Thus, qualitative data from peer-reviewed qualitative publications were used to evaluate ethical standards in ever