Applying Ethical Principles
pptx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Capella University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
NHS4000
Subject
Health Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
pptx
Pages
9
Uploaded by DoctorRatPerson1019
Applying Ethical Principles
Applying Ethical Principles
Julia Centeno
NHS4000 Developing a Healthcare Perspective
Dr. Christy Bailey
October 18, 2023
Julia Centeno
NHS4000 Developing a Healthcare Perspective
Dr. Christy Bailey
October 18, 2023
Ethical case study: To Vaccinate, or Not?
•
In a review of this ethical dilemma, we are presented with a situation in which the
parents of a 5-day-old baby have decided to raise their baby as naturally as possible,
including no vaccinations. The parents have indicated that they have done research
and have decided that the potential harms outweigh the benefits of vaccinating their
child. Their main concern is that vaccines cause autism in children. The child’s
pediatrician strongly recommends that the baby become fully vaccinated, as vaccines
have saved millions of children worldwide and have been largely responsible for
decreased child mortality over the past century. The pediatrician emphasizes the
importance of herd immunity. The pediatrician also informed the parents that most
states require vaccinations before children can attend school, but parents may decide
not to vaccinate under specific circumstances. The parents verbalize their
understanding but still determine that they do not want their daughter vaccinated at
this time.
•
College-educated parents
•
Parents are concerned with research indicating autism can be caused by vaccines
•
Parent’s research consists of online mommy-blogs
•
Pediatrician cites Vaccine Adverse Event Reports System (VAERS) as a source
endorsing the general safety of vaccines
Autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy was shown in this case study by the pediatrician taking the time to listen to the parent’s
concerns and the research done to determine their decision regarding their daughter’s vaccination status.
Listening to the parent’s decision to raise their child as naturally as possible
Plans for breastfeeding
Making their baby food with organic foods
Choice of not vaccinating the baby
According to Dinkins & Sorrell (Jan 2021), “respecting the autonomy of parents and other adults would not
mean simply allowing them to follow their wishes unquestioned. To respect another person as an end in
themselves is to recognize their ability to make decisions and form their own good will (Kant, 1785/1993).
One way of showing that respect would be to help them be an informed free agent. Thus, initiating a
conversation with those who oppose vaccination about the reasons behind their wishes can help to create
a dialogue to understand why they object to vaccination, clear up misinformation, and share the evidence
science provides in favor of vaccinations.”
Autonomy was shown in this case study by the pediatrician taking the time to listen to the parent’s
concerns and the research done to determine their decision regarding their daughter’s vaccination status.
Listening to the parent’s decision to raise their child as naturally as possible
Plans for breastfeeding
Making their baby food with organic foods
Choice of not vaccinating the baby
According to Dinkins & Sorrell (Jan 2021), “respecting the autonomy of parents and other adults would not
mean simply allowing them to follow their wishes unquestioned. To respect another person as an end in
themselves is to recognize their ability to make decisions and form their own good will (Kant, 1785/1993).
One way of showing that respect would be to help them be an informed free agent. Thus, initiating a
conversation with those who oppose vaccination about the reasons behind their wishes can help to create
a dialogue to understand why they object to vaccination, clear up misinformation, and share the evidence
science provides in favor of vaccinations.”
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Beneficence
Beneficence
Beneficence was shown in this case study by explaining the potential benefits compared to the potential
risks of vaccinating a child.
I inferred that a visual representation of data in bar graph form showing the different health risks the child may
have without vaccinations vs. fully vaccinated children would be provided.
Beneficence would be to respect the parent’s wishes but explain the likelihood of being autistic in fully vaccinated
individuals since this was the patient’s primary concern.
As a nurse in a cardiology office, patients who seemed healthy sometimes had an abnormal stress test
and needed a heart catheterization. The patient would be scared and wouldn’t want to do the procedure.
When the doctor was finished seeing the patient, I would go in to explain the process and the benefit of
having the procedure would be to make sure there were blockages in the heart that would benefit from
stents or some other type of intervention to improve their risk of having a heart attack in the future with
additional lifestyle modifications. When this was explained to the patient, they were more likely to be
willing to proceed with the procedure.
Beneficence was shown in this case study by explaining the potential benefits compared to the potential
risks of vaccinating a child.
I inferred that a visual representation of data in bar graph form showing the different health risks the child may
have without vaccinations vs. fully vaccinated children would be provided.
Beneficence would be to respect the parent’s wishes but explain the likelihood of being autistic in fully vaccinated
individuals since this was the patient’s primary concern.
As a nurse in a cardiology office, patients who seemed healthy sometimes had an abnormal stress test
and needed a heart catheterization. The patient would be scared and wouldn’t want to do the procedure.
When the doctor was finished seeing the patient, I would go in to explain the process and the benefit of
having the procedure would be to make sure there were blockages in the heart that would benefit from
stents or some other type of intervention to improve their risk of having a heart attack in the future with
additional lifestyle modifications. When this was explained to the patient, they were more likely to be
willing to proceed with the procedure.
Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence seeks to ensure the safety of the patient and the community.
Seeking nonmaleficence would be difficult with this particular case study due to not being
able to 100% rule out any side effects from vaccinations for the baby, however, not
vaccinating the baby puts the baby at risk for diseases that previously had been eradicated
due to vaccines and putting others at risk who cannot be vaccinated for a medical reason for
contracting a disease or virus that may have been preventable.
Per John (April 2022), “In vaccination programmes, we are not merely trying to help people do
something good for them, but we are also helping them fulfill their ethical obligations. We can
have ethical obligations to perform actions even when those actions do not improve our
prospects; for example, we have an obligation not to harm others, even if harming others
would improve our chance of winning some money. Therefore, the normal injunction on the
medical professional to “do no harm”, which applies in the case of screening, is inapplicable
in the case of vaccination.”
Nonmaleficence seeks to ensure the safety of the patient and the community.
Seeking nonmaleficence would be difficult with this particular case study due to not being
able to 100% rule out any side effects from vaccinations for the baby, however, not
vaccinating the baby puts the baby at risk for diseases that previously had been eradicated
due to vaccines and putting others at risk who cannot be vaccinated for a medical reason for
contracting a disease or virus that may have been preventable.
Per John (April 2022), “In vaccination programmes, we are not merely trying to help people do
something good for them, but we are also helping them fulfill their ethical obligations. We can
have ethical obligations to perform actions even when those actions do not improve our
prospects; for example, we have an obligation not to harm others, even if harming others
would improve our chance of winning some money. Therefore, the normal injunction on the
medical professional to “do no harm”, which applies in the case of screening, is inapplicable
in the case of vaccination.”
Justice
Justice
Justice in this case scenario would be to continue caring for the baby as a patient regardless of the
parent’s decision to vaccinate their child.
As a cardiac nurse, we would see patients who may be unable to afford the best medications
available to treat their heart conditions. We would assist the patient by providing samples and
helping the patient to apply for patient assistance which we would send in an appeal to the
pharmaceutical company to show the medical need for the medication but also show the financial
hardship that the patient had so that the patient could receive the medication either at a much-
reduced cost or free. Sometimes, we would help the patient jump through all of these hoops to get
their medications covered, only for the patient not to take their medications and then be
hospitalized because their condition worsened simply because the patient wasn’t doing everything
on their end to help keep themselves well. We would still assist the patients in receiving their
medications when they were discharged and also teach them the importance of taking their
medications to avoid repeat hospitalizations to ensure they had the best care available.
Justice in this case scenario would be to continue caring for the baby as a patient regardless of the
parent’s decision to vaccinate their child.
As a cardiac nurse, we would see patients who may be unable to afford the best medications
available to treat their heart conditions. We would assist the patient by providing samples and
helping the patient to apply for patient assistance which we would send in an appeal to the
pharmaceutical company to show the medical need for the medication but also show the financial
hardship that the patient had so that the patient could receive the medication either at a much-
reduced cost or free. Sometimes, we would help the patient jump through all of these hoops to get
their medications covered, only for the patient not to take their medications and then be
hospitalized because their condition worsened simply because the patient wasn’t doing everything
on their end to help keep themselves well. We would still assist the patients in receiving their
medications when they were discharged and also teach them the importance of taking their
medications to avoid repeat hospitalizations to ensure they had the best care available.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
•
I
Your Professional Code of Ethics
Your Professional Code of Ethics
I am a registered nurse.
There are 7 ethical principles in the Nursing Code of Ethics: Beneficence,
nonmaleficence, justice, accountability, autonomy, fidelity, and veracity.
https://www.nursingprocess.org/nursing-code-of-ethics-and-interpretive-statements.htm
l
I am a registered nurse.
There are 7 ethical principles in the Nursing Code of Ethics: Beneficence,
nonmaleficence, justice, accountability, autonomy, fidelity, and veracity.
https://www.nursingprocess.org/nursing-code-of-ethics-and-interpretive-statements.htm
l
Conclusion
Conclusion
In conclusion, in my research, I have found that we need a code of ethics to serve as a
“checks and balances” system to make sure we are doing what is right by the patient
and their beliefs but also to make sure that the patient is cared for appropriately that
will be beneficial for themselves as well as the community as a whole. For nurses
specifically, the code of ethics serves as a guide for our professional behavior. It acts
as a type of moral compass while also providing a foundation for decision-making
when we are faced with ethical dilemmas or challenges in our daily work.
In conclusion, in my research, I have found that we need a code of ethics to serve as a
“checks and balances” system to make sure we are doing what is right by the patient
and their beliefs but also to make sure that the patient is cared for appropriately that
will be beneficial for themselves as well as the community as a whole. For nurses
specifically, the code of ethics serves as a guide for our professional behavior. It acts
as a type of moral compass while also providing a foundation for decision-making
when we are faced with ethical dilemmas or challenges in our daily work.
References
Bankiewicz, P., Dworakowska, A. M., Makarewicz-Wujec, M., & Kozłowska-Wojciechowska, M. (2022).
Beliefs and sentiments of parents vaccinating their children - small
town perspective in poland: A
preliminary study.
Central European Journal of Public Health, 30
(1), 7-
12.
https://10.21101/cejph.a5599
ID: 156514286
Dinkins, C. S., & Sorrell, J. M. (2021). Ethics column: Resisting vaccination: How can nurses respond
ethically?
Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 26
(1),
N.PAG.
https://10.3912/OJIN.Vol26No01EthCol01
ID: 156776311
John, S., PhD. (2022). Non-maleficence, social benefit and the vaccination of children.
Rhode Island
Medical
Journal, 105
(3)
http://library.capella.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fnon-maleficence-social-benefit-vaccination
%2Fdocview%2F2648265840%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D27965
https://capella.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/openurl/01CAPELLA_INST/01CAPELLA_INST:Services?genre=
article&atitle
=Non-Maleficence%252C+Social+Benefit+and+the+Vaccination+of+Children&author=John%252C+Stephen%252C+PhD&volume=105&issue=3&spage=9&date=2022-04-01&rft.
btitle=&
rft.jtitle=Rhode+Island+Medical+Journal&issn=&isbn=&sid=ProQ%253Ahealthcompleteshell
_
Source type: Scholarly Journals; Object type: Article; Object type: Feature; Copyright: Copyright
Rhode Island Medical Society Apr 2022; PMID: 53208;
PCID:
PQ_53208_Apr2022_105_3____;
MSTARLegacyID: VENDMHRI0002230069; PublisherXID: VENDMHRI0002230069
Milliken, A., & Uveges, M. K. (2022). Nurses' ethical obligations toward unvaccinated individuals.
AACN
Advanced Critical Care, 33
(2), 220-
226.
https://10.4037/aacnacc2022491
ID: 157259101
Torun, E. G., & Ertuğrul, A. (2022). Parental attitudes and knowledge towards childhood vaccination.
Journal of Pediatric Infection / Çocuk Enfeksiyon Dergisi, 16
(1), e35-e40.
https://10.5578/ced.20229905
ID: 157553063
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help