Ethical Considerations in Nursing Decision Making: A Case Study
Journal: Advanced Journal of Nursing DOI: 10.32629/ajn.v5i3.2828
Abstract
This paper discusses ethical decision-making in nursing practice through case studies, particularly focusing on the protection of patients' privacy rights in the medical teaching environment. By examining a specific hospitalization case, this article reveals the ethical dilemmas that arise when exposing a patient's body to medical students for observation without their consent. Furthermore, this paper analyzes the contrasting perspectives of deontology and utilitarianism in nursing ethical decision making and highlights the necessity of integrating these two theories to form a more comprehensive ethical decision-making process. In this case, the author reflects on potential inadvertent invasion of patient privacy as an operating room nurse based on personal experience and explores how studying ethics can enhance practice. The paper emphasizes that nurses must adhere to ethical principles and respect human dignity when faced with moral challenges, even amidst difficulties and obstacles. Additionally, it acknowledges the philosophical limitations of ethical decision making and asserts that there is no absolute standard answer. Therefore, healthcare professionals should deepen their understanding of philosophical ethics to provide more comprehensive moral support and guidance. This approach not only enables realization of intrinsic value in ethical behavior but also promotes improvement and development of ethical standards within the medical industry.
Keywords
ethical decision-making, nursing practice, patient privacy, patient dignity, moral challenge, ethical principles, deontology, utilitarianism
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[16] Mill, J.S., 2009. Utilitarianism. [online] Auckland, NEW ZEALAND: Floating Press.
[17] Misselbrook, D., 2013. Duty, kant, and deontology: the british journal of general practice : the journal of the royal college of general practitioners. The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, [online] 63(609), p.211.
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[21] Sebo, J., 2023. Kantianism for humans, utilitarianism for nonhumans? Yes and no. Philosophical Studies, [online] 180(4), pp.1211-1230.
[22] Varkey, B., 2021. Principles of Clinical Ethics and Their Application to Practice. Medical Principles and Practice, [online] 30(1), pp.17-28.
[23] Wall, E., 2016. Timmermann, forschler, and the attempt to bridge the kantian-consequentialist gap. Metaphilosophy, [online] 47(4-5), pp.696-699.
[24] White, M.D., 2009. In defense of deontology and kant: a reply to van staveren. Review of Political Economy, [online] 21(2), pp.299-307.
[25] Wood, A.W., 2007. Kantian Ethics. [online] Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511809651. [Accessed: 23 April 2024].
[26] Wood, F. & Dillon, A., 2019. Guide to professional conduct and ethics for registered medical practitioners [amended].
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