Ethical Health Care Issues Essay Example for Free

Ethical Health C are Issues EssayAccording to Womens Health alternative (2011) breast malignant neoplastic disease is a serious issue that leave behind affect almost every women worldwide, all directly as some unity diagnosed with pubic louse, or indirectly through the illness of a loved angiotensin-converting enzyme( Home, para. 1). In the United States breast cancer is the found in women in their early twenties and thirties. These individuals are more prone to breast cancer because she has a family history of breast cancer. In 2006, approximately 212, 920 forward-looking cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States (Womens Health Resource, 2011). The case scenario below go away discuss ethical and sound issues regarding a female enduring with breast cancer, which refuses discourse for breast cancer. Additionally, the scenario forget cover the following four ethical linguistic rules respect for persons/ shore leave, justice, beneficence, and n on-maleficence that relates to the case scenario (Bishop, 2003).Case ScenarioA 25-year-old female unhurried role of of do an identification with her primary pull off atomic number 101 because she discovered a lump on her breast. She went to her appointment with her primary consider physician the following day. The physician examined her breast and discovered a lump on her breast, so he made a referral for her to see an oncologist in which can diagnose her if she has breast cancer. An oncologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnoses and manipulation cancer (The Denise Roberts pinhead Cancer Foundation, 2009). The following are the one-third main types of oncologist medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and surgical oncologist, which can practice in hospitals and research centers. The female longanimous can make an appointment with the oncologist in which he depart inform about her condition and diverse types of discussions available to her in which can reduce her chance of death as tumesce conduct a biopsy. The biopsy willing determine if she has breast cancer. The ethical issues are very clear, and they are respect for autonomy and beneficence. Additionally, the legal or ethical dogmas involved with breast cancer are no different from whatsoever another(prenominal) medicaltreatment/intervention.Autonomy and Informed ConsentAs stated by Bishop (2003), respect for persons/autonomy is that a physician acknowledges a persons right to make choices, to hold views, and take actions base on personal values, and beliefs (p. 7). In order for an adult to refuse treatment, he or she must be legally and mentally capable by meeting the following criteria 18 years or older, understands the disposition of the condition, and voluntary. Additionally, parents with children under the age of 18 have the right to consent to treatment as well refusing treatment for his or her child. As recognized by Miller et al. (2000), physicians have a moral and legal stipulation to comply with a unhurrieds voluntary, informed refusal of life sustaining treatment, regardless of a physician notion concerning the medical or moral appropriateness of this.In the case of the 25-year-old female diligent with breast cancer she rejected medical treatment and was informed by the oncologist about the terminal illness. Death is seen as failure, rather than an important part of life (Smith, 2000). A conflict can arise with the patient because of the decision she made about not receiving pity, which can likely end her life. The oncologist is obligated to inform or educate the patient about breast cancer, benefits of treatments, and risks involved with no treatment. The following are treatment options for cancer patients lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical reconstruction (Womens Health Resource, 2011). Although a physician can suggest benefits of any type of treatment the patient has the freedom to choose if he or she wants the treatment as well as ensuring the patient understand his or her own condition.When a patient refuses treatment for breast cancer or any medical condition, the issue of autonomy becomes difficult because of the serious wellness consequences. The wellness headache nonrecreational will offer the patient different options for treatment when this occurs. As stated before the physician should consult with the patient about his or her decision because nurses have ethics and codes of conduct in which he or she must follow. Nurses must care for patients while taking care of him or her aswell as respecting and living the patient rights to decline treatment at anytime (Stringer, 2009). Medical headmasters should respect the autonomy of patient decisions because it is a critical in the health care industry.BeneficenceRosenthal (2006), the principle of beneficence means that the health care provider must promote the well-being of patients and avoid harm them. Once a patient refuses treatment the health care professional must communicate the harm associated with no treatment for his or her condition. This can present a major role in how beneficence and maleficence is judged. When a patient has breast cancer and refuses treatment there is not another alternative option for the patient. During this principle the health care professional should ensure that he or she is maximizing possible benefits for the patients and minimizing harm when dealing with treatments. The health care professional can suggest certain treatments but the patient does not have to receive any care for his or her condition. When this occurs the physician will focus on different conflict resolutions for the care as well as function. A health care professional job is to offer quality of care to the patient in which he or she will benefit from the medical treatment.During this principle, the health care professional will act with compassion when informing the patient about the potential benefits and risks for any medical condition. A patient is reliant upon the health care professional for someone who is caring and willing to share in the righteousness as well as treating him or her with dignity and respect. The 25-year-old female does not want treatment in which makes it hard for the oncologist to provide quality of care during the consultation and care.Non-maleficenceRosenthal (2006), during this principle, the health care provider ought to strive not to inflict harm to a patient, a requirement also seen as a duty not to refrain from aiding a patient. In addition, this principle will coincide with beneficence because it is reducing the harm to any patientalthough a patient refuses care/treatment. The health care professional is obligated to help the patients to the crush of his or her ability by providing benefits, protecting the patients interest, and promoting welfare. Additionally, how, and what the health care professional does for a patient shou ld have greater chance of benefiting the patient than harming the patient. This is done by risk benefit analyses, where the health care professional can conduct research on the condition and different medications. The health care professional should explain any side effects for treatments as well as medications that the patient will become knowledgeable about options for his or her condition.JusticeThe principle of justice means to treat others equitably, address benefits/burdens fairly (Bishop, 2003). In addition, it is very important for the health care professional to keep a patient informed about treatments and he or she should not provide misinformation to the patient. A major issue with this principle is economic barriers can interfere with a patient when trying to receive treatment and medication. The health care organization is required to provide services/care to a patient regardless of health care coverage, especially the uninsured In addition, the department should that all patients are treated equally regardless of age, race, and ethnicity. Additionally, this principle will focus on justice, which will provide care/treatment regardless of the patient demographics or ethical issues he or she encounters with the health care professional. During this principle, the patient is treated with dignity and respect eve though he or she refused care/treatment for any medical condition.ConclusionRefusal of care is one of the most common ethical dilemmas in the health care industry, which is often difficult to resolve when his or her well-being is threaten. The health care professional must determine, which aspects of autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence a patient want before providing care. Administrators inwardly a medical facility mustexamine the following underlying issues competence of a patient, the promissory note between apparent, and real refusal of care (Michels, 1981). A physician has the legal duty to provide and ensure the patie nt with sufficient information about treatment and care when he or she is at the facility. Additionally, an ethical dilemma will exist because of a patients right will conflict with a physician obligation of providing quality of care to an individual. This was the case with the 25-year-old female with breast cancer.ReferencesBishop, L. (2003). Ethics Background. Kennedy Institute of Ethics. Retrieved on June 8, 2011from http//www.nwabr.org/ educational activity/pdfs/PRIMER/Background.pdfMichels, R. (1981). The Right to Refuse Treatment Ethical Issues. American PsychiatricAssociation, 32(1), 251-255.Miller, F., Fins, J., Snyder, L. (2000). Assisted suicide compared with refusal of treatment avalid distinction?.Annals of Internal Medicine, 132(6), 470-475.Rosenthal, S. M. (2006). Patient Misconceptions and Ethical Challenges in Radioactive Iodinescan and Therapy. Journal if Nuclear Medicine Technology, 34( 3), 143-150.Smith, R. (2000). A good death an important aim for health service s and for us all. . BritishMedical Journal, 320(7228), 129-130.Stringer, S. (2009). Ethical issues involved in patient refusal of life-saving treatment. CancerNursing Practice, 8(3), 30-33.The Denise Roberts Breast Cancer Foundation . (2009). What is an Oncologist? Retrieved June17, 2011 from http//www.tdrbcf.org/oncologist/index.htmlWomens Health Resource. (2011). Breast Cancer. Retrieved on June 17, 2011 fromhttp//www.wdxcyber.com/breast_home.html