Human Ethics in Medical Practice: Autonomy, Justice, and Non-Maleficence

This article discusses the principles of autonomy, justice, and non-maleficence in medical ethics, using a clinical case of a pregnant patient who needs an x-ray. It explores the balance between patient autonomy, fetal rights, and avoiding harm.

RUNNING HEAD: HUMAN ETHICS 1
Human Ethics
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HUMAN ETHICS 2
Human Ethics
INTRODUCTION
Medical ethics is a collection of moral principles that govern the practice of clinical
medicine in relation to medical research. Basically, there are four ethical principles which
include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and finally justice ("Welcome to Advances in
Medical Ethics," 2014). In this assignment, however, I will dwell on the principle of autonomy,
justice, and non-maleficence in relation to a certain clinical case. The principle of autonomy
dictates that the patient make decisions without any influence while the principle of justice is to
ensure that all patients’ rights are reserved. On-maleficence, on the other hand, is avoiding any
harm to the patient (Farrimond, 2013).
The case
My case was a sixteen-year-old girl who did present herself to me as an Oral Health
Therapist. Her name was Jody and she presented with her mother. I, however, decide to take the
routine bitewing x-rays for her checkup. However, within the dental practice, there are certain
procedures that ought to be adhered to especially to the female patients. One such protocol is the
inquiry if she is pregnant. In case she is pregnant, then I have to defer all the process until she
delivers. I, therefore, go ahead and ask Jody if she is pregnant or not. Her mother, on the other
hand, laughs loudly since she is certain that her daughter is not pregnant. Jody, on the other hand,
remains silent. Moments later, her mother leaves the room and Jody discloses to me that she is
indeed pregnant though she doesn’t want her mother to know about it and she tells me that I
should go ahead with the planned radiography so that she does not suspect anything.

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DISCUSSION
The principle of autonomy dictates that a patient has the right to act intentionally with
understanding and free from any control or influences whatsoever. This is one of the core
principles that is applied in clinics by giving a chance to patients so that they can make their own
decisions. As for this case, the patient is Jody and apparently it is very clear that she wish to be
exposed to radiation despite being pregnant. Besides the principle of autonomy dictating that the
patient is the boss, it also highlights that the healthcare profession should provide necessary
conditions for the patient to make the right decision (Edwards, 2009). This includes the physician
sharing information on the potential effects of certain procedures. Based on this case, there is
Jody who is pregnant and any radiation will harm the fetus. The law about fetus, on the other
hand, is very clear in the sense that a fetus has the right to life. From this dilemma. Balance has
to be achieved (Rendtorff, 2015). That is a balance between autonomy, fetal rights and avoiding
harm or non-maleficence. The best way to achieve this is by starting to explain to Jody on the
potential harm of the x-ray on the fetus and tell her that it is against the rights of the fetus to
harm it as it has the right to life. From there, Jody will have to change her mind and the x-ray
will definitely be deferred.

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References
Edwards, S. D. (2009). The Four Principles: Respect for Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-
maleficence and Justice. Nursing Ethics, 56-105. doi:10.1007/978-1-137-11867-7_3
Farrimond, H. (2013). Ethical Principles and Codes. Doing Ethical Research, 25-37.
doi:10.1007/978-1-137-29553-8_3
Rendtorff, J. D. (2015). Update of European bioethics: basic ethical principles in European
bioethics and biolaw. Bioethics Update, 1(2), 113-129.
doi:10.1016/j.bioet.2015.12.004
Welcome to Advances in Medical Ethics. (2014). Advances in Medical Ethics.
doi:10.12715/ame.2014.1.1