NHS FPX 4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles

Name

Capella university

NHS FPX 4000 Developing a Health Care Perspective

Prof. Name

Date

Applying Ethical Principles

Healthcare staff adhere to ethical principles as guidelines to protect patients’ care and uphold their integrity. These ethics direct doctors’ decision-making process. Autonomy allows patients to participate in decisions regarding their treatment. Beneficence entails doctors acting in the best interest of their patients. Nonmaleficence requires doctors to avoid causing harm. Justice ensures fair and equal treatment for all patients (Laureano et al., 2024). Moral challenges in healthcare arise from complex situations where decisions must be made regarding patient care, informed consent, and confidentiality (Domínguez et al., 2023). The assessment highlights how ethical principles guide medical personnel in addressing ethical challenges.

Overview of the Case Study

In this case study, Dr. Emily Clark, a cardiologist at Mercy General Hospital, is treating Mr. Rajan Patel, who suffers from a heart disorder requiring surgical intervention. Dr. Clark ensures that Mr. Patel understands his treatment options, balancing informed consent, beneficence, and patient autonomy despite language barriers. The case centers on the conflict between ensuring Mr. Patel’s understanding of his treatment options and respecting his autonomy. Mr. Patel requests privacy regarding his heart complaint, emphasizing confidentiality and trust in his interactions with nurses due to cultural sensitivities. He prefers not to disclose his heart condition, posing an ethical dilemma for Dr. Clark concerning patient confidentiality. Dr. Clark’s difficulty shows the delicate balance between respecting patient autonomy and managing cross-cultural communication. This scenario underscores the importance of patient autonomy, confidentiality, and ethical decision-making in medical practice.

Academic research into the need for patient autonomy and transparent interaction in heart disease highlights Dr. Clark’s ethical dilemma with Mr. Patel. Analyzing this case through peer-reviewed articles offers insights into ethical considerations. One key feature is patient autonomy’s status in healthcare decision-making, which Dr. Clark balances with beneficence (Haque & Yamoah, 2021). According to Goodwin et al. (2020), research on informed consent in diverse populations supports ethical decision-making, highlighting the importance of transparent discussions and shared decision-making. Patel’s request for confidentiality reflects concerns about privacy and trust.

Despite language barriers, she ensures Mr. Patel understands surgery risks and benefits for genuine informed consent. Cross-cultural communication research effectively conveys medical information to patients with limited English proficiency. Clear communication and strict ethical adherence are essential to ensure Mr. Patel understands his medical situation and feels confident in his treatment choices. Unique challenges include bridging language barriers, navigating cultural differences, and upholding autonomy and beneficence. Medical interpreters and cultural liaisons are essential for effective communication and understanding. Healthcare professionals must respect patients’ autonomy in ethical problems (Glaser et al., 2020).

By integrating insights from peer-reviewed articles, physicians enhance their understanding of the ethical complexities in Dr. Clark’s dilemma. These articles offer evidence-based perspectives on patient autonomy, transparent communication, and informed consent, which are crucial for guiding ethical decision-making in healthcare settings (Haque & Yamoah, 2021). The selection of these studies is justified by their adherence to the CRAAP criteria: currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. This framework evaluates source credibility and precision (Weiss et al., 2021). For instance, a study by Haque & Yamoah (2021) sheds light on healthcare professionals’ ethical dilemmas, emphasizing the implication of patient autonomy and beneficence in medical decision-making. It ensures the maintenance of moral principles and the protection of patients’ rights and safety, and it is current because it was published in 2021. 

Goodwin et al. (2020) emphasize the significance of transparent conversations and shared decision-making in diverse populations, supporting ethical informed consent. This peer-reviewed study aligns with the CRAAP criteria, ensuring credibility and relevance. It is current as it was published in 2020. Glaser et al. (2020) highlight the crucial role of clear communication and ethical adherence in fostering patient knowledge and confidence in treatment choices. It is current as it was published in 2020. Their research offers credible guidance on addressing language difficulties, cultural inequalities, and patient autonomy in healthcare challenges.

Effectiveness of Communication Approaches in the Case Study

Various methods have been utilized to assess the efficacy of cross-cultural communication strategies in the case study involving Dr. Clark and Mr. Patel. Initially, prioritizing patient autonomy is paramount. Mr. Patel’s request for information withholding is rooted in his autonomy over medical decisions. This strategy must be respected to honor his right to choose his healthcare path independently (Domínguez et al., 2023). Dr. Clark’s practice of preserving confidentiality and displaying empathy towards Mr. Patel is pivotal in enabling effective communication.

Dr. Clark recognizes and respects his autonomy by creating a safe environment where Mr. Patel can express concerns, demonstrating dedication to personalized patient care. However, the case also emphasizes ensuring informed consent through effective cross-cultural communication (Giannetta et al., 2022). Practical strategies for overcoming the challenge of conveying complex medical data to patients with limited language proficiency include utilizing proficient medical interpreters and offering translated materials. It engages cultural liaisons or healthcare navigators.

NHS FPX 4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles

Additionally, employing visual aids or simplified language can further enhance understanding and communication between healthcare workers and patients with limited language proficiency. These approaches aim to bridge linguistic and cultural gaps, ensuring equitable access to healthcare information and promoting patient understanding (Jędrzejewska et al., 2022). Utilizing efficient cross-cultural communication methods assists Mr. Patel in understanding medical details, respecting his autonomy, and fostering well-informed choices.

Open communication is indispensable for building trust and ensuring all relevant parties participate in decision-making. Enhancing communication between Dr. Clark and Mr. Patel promotes shared decision-making and provides informed consent. Avoiding unilateral decisions and encouraging collaborative discussions help address ethical dilemmas while upholding patient autonomy and fostering trust (Favaretto et al., 2020). Withholding medical information from involved stakeholders leads to misunderstandings, erosion of confidence, and compromise of the doctor-patient relationship’s integrity (Favaretto et al., 2020).

Ethical Decision-Making Model

The ethical decision-making model involves moral awareness, moral judgment, and ethical behavior. Initially, Dr. Clark reveals moral awareness by recognizing the conflict between patient autonomy and cross-cultural communication in Mr. Patel’s case. She exhibits moral judgment by organizing a private consultation to understand his perspective and evaluate moral principles. Dr. Clark’s intention to respect the patient’s autonomy by providing risk information reflects moral awareness (Zhang et al., 2020). Dr. Clark’s approach meets the judgment principle by assessing the cultural and linguistic factors influencing Mr. Patel’s understanding, ensuring her decisions are informed and customized to his needs. Moreover, her emphasis on empathy and patience addresses the ethical behavior criterion by fostering a supportive atmosphere where Mr. Patel feels at ease expressing his concerns and making informed decisions about his health (Zhang et al., 2020).

Ineffective strategies, such as overly controlling behavior, can erode patient trust and satisfaction. Breaches of patient confidentiality and communication breakdowns weaken therapeutic alliances, causing moral distress and reduced job satisfaction among healthcare professionals. Ethical failures can also result in legal repercussions for healthcare systems, impacting legislative proceedings. Furthermore, ethical violations damage the reputation of healthcare organizations, leading to a loss of community trust and support (Yu et al., 2023).

Resolving the Ethical Dilemma by Applying Ethical Principles

Addressing the case involving Dr. Clark and Mr. Patel entails applying ethical principles to find solutions. Three vital ethical principles, autonomy, beneficence, and transparent communication, are central to resolving the difficulty. Moreover, the principle of justice guarantees equitable allocation of resources and treatment, enriching the ethical basis within the healthcare domain. Balancing confidentiality with support is crucial for maintaining trust while maximizing benefits and minimizing harm (Chrysostomidis et al., 2024). Dr. Clark conducts thorough discussions with Mr. Patel, exploring the implications of his heart condition, surgical risks, potential complications, and health impact, ensuring informed decision-making. This aligns with ethical autonomy and informed consent principles, empowering Mr. Patel to make well-informed medical choices, including sharing delicate health data.

Encouraging open cross-cultural communication fosters beneficence and autonomy, creating an environment for collaborative decision-making (Giannetta et al., 2022). In addressing Mr. Patel’s needs, ensuring fairness in resource allocation by providing him with information tailored to his language ability, supporting his understanding and decision-making development. In Dr. Clark and Mr. Patel’s scenario, ethical principles like autonomy, beneficence, transparent communication, and justice unite to endorse informed decisions and justice to enhance patient care.

Conclusion

The case analysis involving Dr. Clark and Mr. Patel focuses on the significance of moral principles in healthcare decision-making, particularly autonomy, beneficence, and transparent communication. Dr. Clark balances patient autonomy with beneficence through organized discussions and cross-cultural communication, ensuring informed decision-making. 

References

Chrysostomidis, G., Apostolos, A., Papanikolaou, A., Konstantinou, K., Tsigkas, G., Koliopoulou, A., & Chamogeorgakis, T. (2024). The application of precision medicine in structural heart diseases: A step towards the future. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 14(4), 375. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14040375

Domínguez, F. J., García, T., Guillén, A., Cárceles, M. D., & Osuna, E. (2023). Involvement and autonomy of minors in medical settings: Perceptions of children undergoing surgery and parents. Children (Basel), 10(12), 1844–1844. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10121844

Favaretto, M., Shaw, D., De Clercq, E., Joda, T., & Elger, B. S. (2020). Big data and digitalization in dentistry: A systematic review of the ethical issues. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7), 2495. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072495

Giannetta, N., Villa, G., Bonetti, L., Dionisi, S., Pozza, A., Rolandi, S., Rosa, D., & Manara, D. F. (2022). Moral distress scores of nurses working in intensive care units for adults using Corley’s scale: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17), 10640. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710640

Glaser, J., Nouri, S., Fernandez, A., Sudore, R. L., Schillinger, D., Klein-Fedyshin, M., & Schenker, Y. (2020). Interventions to improve patient comprehension in informed consent for medical and surgical procedures: An updated systematic review. Medical Decision Making, 40(2), 119–143. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272989×19896348

Goodwin, L., Williams, L., & Herzog, P. (2020). Cross-cultural values: A meta-analysis of major quantitative studies in the last decade (2010–2020). Religions, 11(8), 396. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11080396

Haque, A. ul, & Yamoah, F. A. (2021). The role of ethical leadership in managing occupational stress to promote innovative work behaviour: A cross-cultural management perspective. Sustainability, 13(17), 9608. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179608

Jędrzejewska, B., Ślusarska, J., Jurek, K., & Nowicki, J. (2022). Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the international questionnaire to measure the use of complementary and alternative medicine (I-CAM-Q) for the Polish and cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1), 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010124

Laureano, D., Laranjeira, C., Querido, A., Dixe, A., & Rego, F. (2024). Ethical issues in clinical decision-making about involuntary psychiatric treatment: A scoping review. Healthcare, 12(4), 445. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12040445

Yu, P., Xu, H., Hu, X., & Deng, C. (2023). Leveraging generative AI and large language models: A comprehensive roadmap for healthcare integration. Healthcare, 11(20), 2776. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11202776

NHS FPX 4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles

Zhang, L., Li, H., & Chen, K. (2020). Effective risk communication for public health emergency: Reflection on the COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) outbreak in Wuhan, China. Healthcare, 8(1), 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8010064

/md.0000000000021389