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Professional IDEs, especially in the healthcare field, cannot be overemphasized since ethical issues are part and parcel of this profession. These circumstances are often used when there are attitudinal differences or more likely when finding a solution is challenging due to differences in values or principles. Buffering these ethical dilemmas in the delivery of healthcare needs a well-coordinated approach that would help in making decisions that are suitable for needy patients without being a betrayal of the general code of conduct. In this article, the following are important steps to follow when dealing with ethical issues in healthcare.
The first step in addressing ethical challenges in healthcare is to identify the issue at hand. This involves recognizing that an ethical problem exists and understanding the conflicting values or principles involved. Healthcare professionals should consider questions such as: What are the potential harms and benefits of the situation? Who are the stakeholders affected? What ethical principles (such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice) conflict? By thoroughly identifying the ethical dilemma, professionals can gain a clear understanding of the core issues that need to be addressed.
After identifying the type of ethical dilemma, it becomes a forefront to gather any information that can prove helpful in solving it. These include coming up with details of the patient’s condition, the treatment that may be available for the ailment, the legal questions, the expectations of the patients and the family, other attendants, and any healthcare givers. It is useful especially when people have to decide to investigate the data accuracy regarding the information collected. This also includes the knowledge of ethical consideration that needs to be followed or the legal regulations of the institution offering the training or any other related law.
Here, the role of ethical competence in the analysis of the results of the considered ethical conflict and the possession of important information in ethical decision-making can be summarized as follows. This involves evaluating the various risks that may prevail following the implementation of the selected strategy and its compliance with the ethics and period standards of the regulatory ethical decision-making is the systematic process of identifying the right course of action bearing in mind the set principles. However, proceeding from this perspective, one must not lose sight of and reflect on the benefits and possible negative effects that might transpire in the short period or the long run. Besides, the health care providers should also, consider the patient’s and the family's status, preferences, values, culture, and religion in arriving at the decision.
The use of other people for informing ethical decision-making in health care is often called interdisciplinary collaboration. The healthcare management as well as all other medical personnel of this present day and age must consult with their co-workers or employees, ethics committees, as well as other relevant references and literature within this healthcare institution. Due to the input provided by various experts within the treatment team, it could foster awareness of the opinions, which may assist in the decision-making process. On the possible list of structural components, one can single out the ethics committees as the most valuable resources that can offer the subject adequately structured assistance and orchestrate the process of ethical reflection. It may also be necessary for professionals; the case may involve legal matters that may warrant seeking legal assistance from a lawyer.
The last process regarding decision-making involves decision Examination where you choose the most appropriate step to take depending on the advice you have received. This includes informing those concerned with the decision, overseeing the implementation of the decision, and assessing the effect of the decision. One of the best practices on how decision-making must be done is to ensure that the decisions made and the actions to be taken are explained in detail. The Darzi review also specified that, after the implementation, the healthcare professionals engaged in the decision process should consider the decision made and the result of the decided action. It can be educative and quite useful when it comes to future ethical decision-making because it will point out potential lessons that can be learned.
The cases of ethical dilemma outlined in the paper show that the identification of and decision-making process on ethical issues in healthcare can only be done systematically. Points to ponder Half a century on from the publication of the ANA Code for Nurses, healthcare professionals can better prepare and respond to ethical issues in healthcare through the following: Using the appraisal of the healthcare dilemma, researching the issue, analyzing healthcare alternatives, asking for professional advice and apprehending and reviewing the action and decision-making process. This systematic approach also guarantees that patient care is prioritized in decision-making without compromising on the principles of right and wrong as well as professional ethics. Ethical issues have always been a key to healthcare and as healthcare continues to transform, the need to uphold sound ethical practice remains paramount in providing quality and safe healthcare to patients.
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