Health and Social Care: Ethical Dilemmas and Case Study Analysis

This essay explores ethical dilemmas in health and social care, focusing on issues like confidentiality, risk management, justice, and autonomy. The introduction sets the stage by defining health and social care and its ethical challenges. Task 1 delves into specific ethical dilemmas, discussing confidentiality breaches, risk management strategies, the principles of justice in healthcare, and patient autonomy. Task 2 presents two case studies: one involving a patient with syphilis and the ethical considerations of informing the spouse, and another concerning a care worker's decision regarding a patient with learning difficulties and the violation of autonomy. The conclusion summarizes the importance of ethical decision-making in healthcare, emphasizing the need for practitioners to navigate complex situations with fairness and integrity. The essay utilizes various sources to support its arguments and provide a comprehensive overview of ethical challenges in the healthcare sector.

ESSAY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERNCE ....................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Health and social care involves the medical facility that is used to treat the people and
help them to recover faster. These facilities are offered by the expert medical professional,
surgeon and dentist that have required qualifications and deep knowledge about their subject. So
it represent the whole healthcare sector including both public and private sector that have the
motive to care for the well-being of patients (Aveyard, 2014). This report makes discussion
regarding different subjects and the dilemma associated with the different issues of health and
social care. Along with that analysis to resolve the ethical dilemma are successfully covered in
the report.
TASK 1
Confidentiality in healthcare: Confidentiality is one of the major dilemma in the
healthcare sector which is associated to disclose the vital information in order to maintain the
public interest. In case of breach of confidence regarding the necessary information can affect
the relation between doctor as well as patient. So it is the responsibility of doctor that they
effectively understand the ethical as well as legal framework by which they can maintain the
basic principle which is associated with the confidentiality. Like, during the time of consultation
when doctors or professionals come to know about the sever condition of the patients then they
may experience ethical dilemma. So it is the responsibility of doctor to keep the information
confidential and does not share it with other patients or in public areas. This helps to maintain the
trust of people within healthcare sector.
Risk management in healthcare: It consist of the clinical system as well as processes
that is used to detect and monitor the performance in order to mitigate the chances of risk. This
help to safeguard the interest of patient by reducing the chances of medical error and safeguard
the lives of patients (Cheers, 2019). At time the medical professional faces the ethical dilemma
where it may face the conflict of interest. So to cope up with this situation the company need to
give more priority to the patient and mitigate the chances of risk experienced from the external
environment.
Justice: The principal of justice is followed in healthcare sector that introduce with an
element of fairness in all medical decisions. Fairness in decisions that burden and benefits as
well as provides equal distribution of resources and new treatments. Medical practitioners must

ensure that laws and regulations is applicable in fair and just manner. Ethical dilemma in justice
system arises in most of the cases is related to allocation of services to all the individuals in equal
manner. As still in medical professions new treatments and facilities are provided on the basis of
priorities as higher section of the society is served on preferential basis and that serves as an
ethical dilemma.
Autonomy: This reflects right of patients to make decisions about their medical care
without influence of their medical care provider. A ethical dilemma is created when patients are
provided with decision making power in relation to their healthcare (Costa-Font and Greer
2016). As an individual can not think cautiously when it comes to take decision related to his or
her own. At that time doctors needs to take a interference in decision making process. The whole
scenario is represented in complete manner. Suggestions are provided so that a good decision can
be made and this leads to generation of ethical dilemma.
TASK 2
Confidentiality case
As per the case study of Jordan he has been admitted to the hospital due to the contracted
syphilis that took place due to the casual sex. Although he is married with buit her wife don't
know that he is a bisexual neither Jordan wanted to inform her otherwise this can break his
relationship. At the same time Jordan wanted her wife to gets the test done because there is a
possibility that even she can get infected due to the Jordan. For this he made the request to doctor
to keep the information about Jordan confidential.
At this situation the doctors faces the ethical dilemma that whether they should share all
the details with the wife of Jordan or not. On the basis of good practice it is vital that the doctor
should inform the wife that what test they are going to do so that she remain well versed with the
result of test. Also if at present her wife does not faces the symptoms of contracted syphilis then
it is not necessary that in future she won't get infected due to this as it get transmitted during the
time of practice (Curtis and Burns,2015). The solution of this situation is that the doctor need to
examine the Jordan wife and need to explain the reason of this test. All things are explained in
such a manner it least affect the relation of Jordan with his wife and carry out all test by giving
informed consent.
There is an other case study of Chelsea which is associated with the confidentiality under
which she remain depressed because of her surrounding like separation of her parents. She can

even gone through the suicidal thoughts where she has harmed herself by cutting the arms and
legs. So at this situation Marie who is the nurse of patient need to keep all the information
confidential which mean she should not discussed the situation of Chelsea with other member or
patient be causer this can further disturb her and affect her recovery (Goldman-Mellor and et. al.,
2014). Even she makes sure that the patient do not writ about this matter which can affect her
privacy. Thus, she talks to her her frequently and console her so that they overcome from the
stage of depression and lead her life peacefully.
Autonomy
In this case Jackie is a care worker in a supported living facility for those with serving
learning difficulties. In that care centre Holly a 45 years old women with severe learning
difficulties was unable to communicate verbally. Jackie as a care person was concerned with
Holly's finger nails as they are too long and she keeps on scratching her body. Jackie decided to
cut off her nails as a personal care person he felt this necessary (Dahl and Boulos, 2014). Holly
did not want Jackie to cut of her nails and she was not asked at all to perform the same. In this
situation Jackie's manager inform him and expressed his concern that as per disciplinary
procedure it was Holly's right to decide the same. Holly's right of autonomy gets violated in heal-
care segment.
As per autonomy in healthcare department each individual is given right to make decision
about their medical care without intervention or manipulation through health care provider. In
the process of providing personal care or heath care services by medical practitioner it is his or
her duty to give patient fair chance to make a choice. In the present care Jackie is personal care
person for Holly and is keen to take all the necessary decisions that helps in effective personal
care for Holly. Despite of his clear ad fair intention for decision making he can not plead that his
decision has not violated right of autonomy in healthcare. This is a situation of ethical dilemma
as Jackie is performing his activity in best interest of Holly who is not efficient to communicate.
She keeps on scratching her body and is not aware with the consequences for same. Even if she
is unable to communicate it is necessary to take her permission while cutting her nails (Duckett
and Willcox 2015). Language which she understands will be used for communication and all the
possible steps will be taken to make her communicate with requirement to cut of her nails.
When a situation arises that even after communication she does not understands the
situation then as a personal care person Jackie needs to take all the reasonable steps to deal with

the situation (Ventola, 2014). Here a situation of ethical dilemma will be created but when
patients is inefficient to make a clear decision and no other family member is available to resolve
the issue then in that case it is justifiable for healthcare practitioner to take decision for patient
which is best and provides desired results to patients.
CONCLUSION
From the above project report it has been concluded that there are number of situations
that are available in healthcare sector that leads to generation of ethical dilemma. These
situations needs to be death in most efficient manner so that each practitioner can perform his or
her task in true and fair manner. Each situation needs to be accessed very clearly and decision is
made in such manner so that ethics is followed throughout the process of providing services in
healthcare sector.

REFERNCE
Books and journals:
Aveyard, H., 2014. Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide.
McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Cheers, B., 2019. Welfare bushed: Social care in rural Australia. Routledge.
Costa-Font, J. and Greer, S. eds., 2016. Federalism and decentralization in European health and
social care. Springer.
Curtis, L. A. and Burns, A., 2015. Unit costs of health and social care 2015. Personal Social
Services Research Unit.
Dahl, T. S. and Boulos, M .N .K., 2014. Robots in health and social care: A complementary
technology to home care and telehealthcare?. Robotics,. 3(1). pp.1-21.
Duckett, S. and Willcox, S., 2015. The Australian health care system (No. Ed. 5). Oxford
University Press.
Goldman-Mellor, S. J.and et. al., 2014. Suicide attempt in young people: a signal for long-term
health care and social needs. JAMA psychiatry,. 71(2). pp.119-127.
Ventola, C.L., 2014. Social media and health care professionals: benefits, risks, and best
practices. Pharmacy and Therapeutics,. 39(7). p.491.
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