Case Study: Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare and Patient Care

This case study delves into a healthcare ethics scenario involving a respiratory therapist, Pam Hays, facing an ethical dilemma. Pam must decide which patient to assist first: a child with cystic fibrosis experiencing breathing difficulties or a patient, Mr. Wright, who is being discharged but requires a final therapy session. The assignment examines the application of ethical principles, including autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and the principle of need. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing patient care based on the urgency of the situation. The case concludes that, in accordance with healthcare ethics, Pam should prioritize the child's immediate need for treatment over the less urgent needs of Mr. Wright. The study highlights the significance of ethical guidelines in healthcare decision-making and patient well-being.

Running head: HEALTHCARE ETHICS
HEALTHCARE ETHICS
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1HEALTHCARE ETHICS
Introduction:
Healthcare ethics is a set of moral values that directs individuals in creating improved
health precaution sets. These morals are used in resolution making for a person ‘s wellbeing
(Stolt et al., 2018).
Discussion:
The assignment will focus on the use of ethical values and the importance of it in
providing proper care to people. Pam Hays works as a respiratory therapist at Westridge
Hospital. There has been an outbreak of flu in the region and she is the only therapist left in
the area who could help as her two workers has also fallen sick. A patient named John Wright
was hospitalized due to emphysema and as he has recovered, he will be released in the
morning, and before he leaves Pam needs to give him a last therapy session. As there is a
child in need of her who needs her assistance and Mr. Wright is also waiting for her, she is in
dilemma that who should she assist first. The principles of health ethics are dispersed into
four portions; The principle of autonomy stating, respect persons right to choose their
decision (Gillon, 2015). Second is, the principle of beneficence which guides to benefit
patients for their own good (Abdool et al., 2016). The principle of nonmaleficence ensure no
damage to anyone the principle of justice allows to be unbiased and the last The principle of
need states that the distribution of care should be focusing on the urgency of assistance. On
focusing on the principle of need, Pam should first treat the child who is suffering due to
mucus composition in his lungs as therapy can be provided to Mr. Wright after Pam assists
the child as it is not as urgent as the case of child. Mr. Wright is already being discharged
from the hospital, he just need the last therapy for a better purpose, but the child is suffering
from cystic fibrosis and as mucus is filled in his lung, he is having difficulty. In this situation,
following the healthcare ethics, Pam should choose who to assist first focusing on the
emergency and need of the treatment.
Conclusion:
In order to conclude, it can be specified that, these healthcare ethics play an important
role in providing proper care to the patients. Every ethics must be followed focusing to the
necessity of the patient.

2HEALTHCARE ETHICS
References:
Abdool, R., Szego, M., Buchman, D., Justason, L., Bean, S., Heesters, A., ... & Gibson, J.
(2016). Difficult healthcare transitions: Ethical analysis and policy recommendations
for unrepresented patients. Nursing ethics, 23(7), 770-783.
Gillon, R. (2015). Defending the four principles approach as a good basis for good medical
practice and therefore for good medical ethics. Journal of medical ethics, 41(1), 111-
116.
Stolt, M., Leino-Kilpi, H., Ruokonen, M., Repo, H., & Suhonen, R. (2018). Ethics
interventions for healthcare professionals and students: A systematic review. Nursing
ethics, 25(2), 133-152.