Ethical Issues and Decision Making 1 - Assessment and Internal Verification Front Sheet

ASSESSMENT AND INTERNAL VERIFICATION FRONT SHEET (Individual Criteria)
(Note : This version is to be used for an brief issued to students via Classter)
Unit Number & Title Ethical Issues and Decision Making
Assignment Number, Title /
Type Take Home Assignment 1
Assessment Criteria Maximum Mark
Criteria : K&U 1.2 Be able to explain the difference between moral rules and principles 5
Criteria : K&U 1.1 Explain what you understand by ethics and be able to explain different ethical theories 5
Criteria : A&A 1.3 Demonstrate the connection between moral ideas and moral actions 7
Criteria: S&E 1.4 Demonstrate that you understand why ethical issues solicit differences of opinion 10
Total Mark 27
THA 1
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All four (4) questions need to be answered.
The maximum marks allocated per question can be found at the end of each question.
Question 1 of 4
What is morality? (Define the term morality, and identify any possible factors which affect
morality.)
Morality refers to the basic values in a person that makes them a better human. Morality in nursing field is
defined as different emotional and ethical aspects that reflects moral value towards profession and patient
(Morley, Bradbury-Jones and Ives, 2020). These moral issues are very necessary for this field as it deals with
the health and well-being of humans. Any misconception followed by the medical can lead to risk of life of the
patient. These misconceptions can be small or big, its effects can be both direct and indirect and It can be
committed by higher level of medical practitioners as well. It is really important for every internal stakeholder
in the medical field to work upon their methods and learn work ethics so that the life of human doesn't get
treated with carelessness. There are various methods ethics and morals that has to be followed by nurses,
doctors and other medical staff.
Empathetical
The medical practitioner working in the health industry whether it is private or public should have a sense of
empathy towards their patients and treat them accordingly. They should treat the patients as humans and not
as an operating subject which is paying for the treatment. Empathetical behaviour should be attempted
towards the family and friends of the patient as well, to boost their morale and hope for the best can be
maintained.
Unbiased
Different patients should be treated as equal, and they should be differentiated on any basis and their
treatment shouldn't be performed according to differences in them. Nurses should focus on every patient with
equality and show concern for them without differentiating. This problem is mainly faced in the private sector
as the patients are differentiated with their spending capacity and class.
Focused
Every individual involve in the curing of patients should be focused and concerned towards their respective
roles. If every employee is focused towards heir jobs and do it effectively then the risk of life will decrease and
the patients will be treated with good care. The administration should also consider various human factors
while assigning duties to the respective candidates. Their mental health and other aspects should be
considered so that they can focus on their work. Any disturbance or disruption should be eliminated that can
impact the activities of practitioner and leads to the risk of life.
Concerned
Nurses treating the patients should be concerned towards the individuals and shouldn't treat them carelessly.
Treating patients carelessly can impact their health and it can lead to uncertainties. Every employee in the
hospital should have a ultimate goal of the best treatment of patients and their health issues. While their duty
hours they shouldn't be concerned towards any other aspect instead of which the health of patients should be
prioritized.
Factors that affect morality
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There are various factors that can affect moral values of a person and direct them towards a different
personality. Some possible affecting factors are discussed below:
Family
Family background and culture of the individual have a vital role on their personality a s they are brought up
in that environment, and they spend most of their time in that environment. The moral values of a person is
judged on the basis of their family Background because it is commonly seen that a whole family majorly have
the same set of moral values and minorly differs from member to member.
Education
Educational background of a person influences their point of view to an extent where it starts divulging into
their moral values and human beliefs. The environment in which a person studies effects their behaviour
towards other and it has a lifetime impact on their personality. Effective teaching of moral values can lead to a
good personality development.
Religion
Religious beliefs followed by the person throughout their life impacts their character and value in the society
as many people are highly religious. Deep understanding of the religious teachings can improve the moral
values in the person.
Question 2 of 4
What is ethics?
The basic definition of ethics is stated as the ways of behaviour which differs from situation to situation is
whether right or wrong (Prestia, 2020). Ethics dictates the authenticity and moral code of conduct that has to
be followed by a person in different field or situation.
Ethics is the philosophical aspect developed in through the ages which majorly focus on eliminating wrong
practises and oversees the smooth running of the body. Ethical laws mentions the actions of human activity
that it is acceptable or not.
In medical field ethics of conduct are very essential as it depicts upon the lives of patients because they have
to ultimately face the consequences. Ethical values of the medical practitioner is reflected when they have to
face different dilemmas in which they have to make decision that is influenced by their core values. Some of
the ethics that are majorly contained in the personality of nurses are discussed below:
Autonomy
This ethical value depicts the right of a patient to know the medical process and avail their preferable method.
Nurses are expected to convey every information regarding the health of the individual and allow them to
make their decisions accordingly. The information of every kind should be conveyed such as risks involved in
the process, complications that will be in the way, etc. to the patient and their respective guardian.
Beneficence
Medical practitioner or nurses should have merciful and kind behaviour towards the patients and their family
or relatives. This ethic focuses on the good behaviour of the staff so that the stress on patient and their
concerned relatives should be relieved. A nurse should treat the patients with respect and polite behaviour in
order to be kind to them without getting impacted with their differences.
Justice
This ethic of justice directs the nurses towards fair and unbiased care of patient by focusing just on their
health instead of their financial abilities or any other differences. Every patient in a hospital should be treated
with equality and their heath care should be done respectively. This ethical value gives justice to the patient
which are considered in the lower class in the society.
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