Script for Ethical Dilemma

Script for Ethical Dilemma

Hi Everyone, Today I will be talking about healthcare dilemma that often arises in healthcare settings, particularly in hospitals.

Slide 2: Scenario

The setting that is taken into regard is a busy hospital where a senior nurse is faced with an ethical dilemma. This revolves around the administration of a potentially life-saving medication to a patient who is critically ill. The medication has recently been flagged by the hospitals pharmacy. Owing to the fact that it is under investigation. The allegations are predominantly for serious side effects. However, the patients condition is deteriorating rapidly. On the contrary, withholding the medication could lead to the patients death.

Slide 3: Choices Available

Administer the medication: The first choice revolves around potentially saving the life of the patient. However, it has its fair share of dilemma associated with it. Owing to the fact that it would inherently expose the patient to severe as well as fatal side effects (Martinez-Martin et al., 2021).

Withhold the medication: From an apparent vision it would seem that this choice actually averts the risk. However, in reality, if the medication is not given to the patient the chances of the patient to expire is substantially high due to the lack of immediate treatment.

Slide 4: Unwelcome Elements

Administering the medication: The unwelcome element here is the risk of causing harm or even death to the patient due to the serious side effects of the medication (Martinez-Martin et al., 2021).

Withholding the medication: The unwelcome element here is the risk of allowing the patient to die from their current condition without attempting the treatment.

Slide 5: Harm or Compromise of Values

Administering the medication has the probability of causing harm to the patient. In light of the fact that it would expose them to severe side effects. This is actually extensively conflicting with the healthcare principle of "do no harm" (Martinez-Martin et al., 2021).

Withholding the medication could result in the patients death. As far as conflicting with the healthcare responsibilities is concerned, particulate measures are not taken into consideration by withholding the medication then the chance of saving the life is bleak in this instance. Owing to the fact that possible based care is delayed extensively (Akdeniz et al., 2021).

The dilemma constitutes an ethical challenge because both available choices involve significant risks and potential harms, forcing the nurse to weigh the possible outcomes against ethical principles such as beneficence (doing good), non-maleficence (avoiding harm), and respect for patient autonomy.

Slide 6: Description of the Framework

Framework: Jewells Ethical Decision-Making Framework

The chosen framework for analyzing this dilemma is Jewells Ethical Decision-Making Framework. This framework provides a structured approach to resolving ethical dilemmas by systematically considering the situation, the stakeholders involved, the ethical principles at stake, and the potential outcomes of each option (Taquette & Borges da Matta Souza, 2022).

Slide 7: Stakeholders and Interested Parties

The Patient: The primary stakeholder whose life is directly affected by the decision to administer or withhold the medication. The patients well-being, safety, and autonomy are central to the dilemma.

The Patients Family: They are concerned about the patients life and may have their preferences regarding treatment. They may either support or oppose the administration of the medication (Taquette & Borges da Matta Souza, 2022).

The Senior Nurse: Responsible for making the decision, the nurse is concerned with upholding professional ethics, ensuring patient safety, and avoiding any legal or professional repercussions (Akdeniz et al., 2021).

The Hospital Administration: Interested in maintaining patient safety, reducing legal risks, and upholding the institution's reputation. They may have policies or guidelines that influence the decision (Taquette & Borges da Matta Souza, 2022).

The Pharmaceutical Company: Interested in the investigation of the medications side effects and the outcomes of its administration, as this could impact the medications future use (Akdeniz et al., 2021).

Slide 8: Sources to Inform the Application of Ethical Theories/Approaches

The analysis will be informed by:

Utilitarianism: This is deliberately taken into consideration for the sake of determining the immediate consequences of each choice. Utilitarianism is efficacious as far as deciphering maximum overall benefits all while minimizing the harm to the patient (Haahr et al., 2020).

Deontological Ethics: In order to ascertain the responsibility of the registered nurse as far as strictly adhering to professional standards as well as ethical principle, deontological ethics is applied, regardless of the outcomes (Haahr et al., 2020).

References:

Akdeniz, M., Yardmc, B., & Kavukcu, E. (2021). Ethical considerations at the end-of-life care. SAGE open medicine, 9, 20503121211000918.

Haahr, A., Norlyk, A., Martinsen, B., & Dreyer, P. (2020). Nurses experiences of ethical dilemmas: A review. Nursing ethics, 27(1), 258-272.

Martinez-Martin, N., Luo, Z., Kaushal, A., Adeli, E., Haque, A., Kelly, S. S., ... & Milstein, A. (2021). Ethical issues in using ambient intelligence in health-care settings. The lancet digital health, 3(2), e115-e123.

Taquette, S. R., & Borges da Matta Souza, L. M. (2022). Ethical dilemmas in qualitative research: A critical literature review. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 21, 16094069221078731.