Ethical Considerations and Challenges in Healthcare Sectors

This report delves into the ethical challenges encountered by healthcare practitioners, using a case study involving a doctor's decision to perform a C-section. It examines the ethical dilemmas related to patient consent and the violation of patient rights, referencing the NHS Patient's rights and the Human Rights Act 1998. The report includes a discussion with the doctor, exploring the justification for the C-section and the prioritization of patient life. It also highlights the challenges faced by healthcare professionals, the role of regulatory authorities like NHS and HSE, and the ethical guidance provided by GMC and NMC. The analysis covers the services of NHS, its patient-centric approach, and the role of HSE in maintaining safety standards. The report concludes by emphasizing the ongoing ethical challenges in healthcare and the importance of balancing patient rights with the safety and well-being of patients. The report also highlights the importance of transparency and honesty in medical practices.

Ethical issues faced by health practitioners

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ETHICAL ISSUES IN HEALTHCARE SECTORS
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Observation and analysis of the Case.........................................................................................2
Ethical dilemma related with the case....................................................................................3
Discussion with the doctor related to ethical challenges related to case................................3
Challenges faced by health care practitioners........................................................................4
Regulatory authorities related to public health of UK...........................................................4
Analysis of services of NHS..............................................................................................4
Analysis of health care practices by HSE..........................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
In this analysis, the focus will be given over the ethical challenges faced by practitioners in
fulfilling their roles and duties. An analysis will be done over the various Acts and
legislations made by the government of UK for wellbeing and safety of health and social care
practitioners. Analysis will be done about the transparency, equality and safeguarding of the
patients, who are treated by health care practitioners.
Observation and analysis of the Case
While working with HSE, a case was observed. The case was related to a doctor who was
working at the post of Obstetrician Gynaecologist in a well-known hospital of London. I was
observing his practices while working as a nurse under his department. It was observed in
case of a patient who is pregnant and about to deliver a baby within few days (Name of the
patient is not disclosed because of security reasons). The patient was having a sound health
and was not having any disease. On the bases of regular check-ups done by doctors, it was
very clear that she is in a good health to deliver a baby. Still the doctor decided to go for C-
section in the OT even without taking the permission of the patient. Patient was not in the
position to take her decision because she was suffering from labour pain and unaware about
the condition of foetus in her body (Christilaw, 2006).
It was observed by the staff members that the doctor always prefers the Caesarean-section
surgery of the patient rather than go for the process of normal delivery. Although it was said
by the doctor that she perform the C- Section in order to safeguard the health of mother and
the baby. Moreover complexities in found usually in the cases related to motherhood (Tara
D.Collard, 2009).
However by having C-section, doctor saves herself by safety of patients and baby, but a long
term effects has been noticed over the body of patients as comparison to the women having
normal delivery throughout their life. That is why I was suspicious about the decision of the
doctor. Moreover, I realised the violation of human rights in this case (JJ Ignacio, 2013).
Ethical dilemma related with the case

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According to the NHS Patient’s rights, the patients have rights to receive the information
about the complete procedure of treatment. Moreover permission of the patient is mandatory
before giving any treatment. As observed in this case, the doctor immediately decided to go
for C-section without taking the consent of patient (NHS, 2019).
According to the Human Rights Act 1998, any patient has a right of receiving the
information of his treatment with transparency of the services (England, 2018). As observed
in this case, the rights of the patient related to information of her treatment is violated by the
doctor.
Discussion with the doctor related to ethical challenges related to case
When I discussed this case with the doctor, she said that it was highly essential to go for the
C-section of the patient because the foetus in the womb was not in a right position at the time
of operation. She explained that in spite of good physical health of the client, the position of
the foetus cannot be predicted. This position can be analysed only at the time of operation.
She said that if she would not have decided to go for the surgery, the life of the patient could
not be saved (Kuczewski, 2019).
When I asked about her the violation of the rights of medical patients in such types of cases,
she explained that being a doctor, the life of the patient is the first priority for her and she is
authorised to take any decision without taking consent of the patient in order to save the life
of the patient (J Koskenvuori, 2019).
According to the code of conducts of GMC of UK, stated that any licence holder medical
practitioner is accountable for his own decision. The doctor can make prompt decision if the
life of the patient is at risk. Safety of the life of the patient is on the major priority for a
doctor. Moreover, the care of patient should be the first concern according to good medical
practices referred by GMC (GMC, 2013).
Challenges faced by health care practitioners
Most of the health care professionals including doctors dealing with a lot of ethical
challenges in their day to day practices. Medical profession is the most sensitive profession as
comparison with other professions because it directly deals with the health and life of the
patients. In many of the social and mental health care cases, patient was not in a condition to
take their own decisions. In that case, decision will have to be taken by doctors and

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professionals. This task is the most challenging for professionals because health and life of
the patients is at risk. One wrong decision or a little bit delay in decision making may leads
towards the death of the patients.
Regulatory authorities related to public health of UK
Government of UK are providing regulations and policies for the welfare of both patients and
professionals in order to make safe and favourable environment for work.
Analysis of services of NHS
NHS is a regulatory authority of UK which is operating in four different parts of UK named
as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. NHS helps the public in controlling their
health and ensure about safe public health. It offers various programs for the safety and
wellbeing of people of the country.
With the help of MCA (Mental Capacity Act), NHS makes the patient ensure about the
decisions of the doctor. It stated that if a person is not in a position to take their own decision,
doctor may have the power to take the decision but the decision should be in the favour of the
patient while maintaining the security of the patient. Although, NHS inspires the public in
taking their own decisions (NHS, 2005).
NHS is also providing a Health App named as ‘NHS App’ for general public in order to book
appointments with doctors for getting proper medical care. The public may also report any
issue against doctors, professionals and hospitals, if they found the violation of their rights
(NHS, 2019).
Analysis of health care practices by HSE
HSE is the national independent regulatory authority of for maintain health and safety
standard at workplaces. It is authorised for taking enforcement actions throughout the Great
Britain in order to ensure about the safety of workers. It helps the workers in keeping safe and
healthy at their workplaces by managing the risk attached with work. It has a specified
powers given by legislation to respond against complains filed by clients, consumers or
patients.
HSE is operated separately in England, Scotland and Wales. Medical Act 1983 consists of
General Medical Council (GMC) which is involved in maintaining ethical standard for work.

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GMC controls over the registration and licences of health care professionals while providing
ethical guidance to the practitioners in order to fulfil their duties with work ethics and morals
(GMC, 2019). GMC stated the ethical guidelines to the doctors and practitioners for the
wellbeing of public health. NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) defines the correct code
of practices to the nurses, midwives and other health care professionals of the health care
sectors in order to ensure about maintaining the rights of patients with best medical services
(NMC, 2015).
Conclusion
According to the analysis of the observation of the case, it can be said that health care
professionals are dealing with a lot of challenges related to ethical practices in their day to
day tasks. Facing ethical issues becomes the major part of the duty of a doctor. They need to
work with great concern of the protection of the health of the patient while safeguarding the
personal rights of the patients. Honesty and transparency became the major issues of medical
professionals. However, the government of UK made regulatory authorities and Acts for the
wellbeing of both patients and health care professionals but still facing the ethical challenges
are a part of jobs of social and health care practitioners.

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References
Christilaw, J., 2006. Cesarean section by choice: constructing a reproductive rights
framework for the debate. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 94(3), pp. 262-
268.
England, E. a. h. r. c. o., 2018. The Human Rights Act. [Online]
Available at: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/human-rights/human-rights-act
[Accessed 28 December 2019].
GMC, 2013. Good medical practice. [Online]
Available at: https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/good-
medical-practice
[Accessed 27 December 2019].
GMC, 2019. Ethical guidance. [Online]
Available at: https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance
[Accessed 27 December 2019].
J Koskenvuori, O. N. R. S., 2019. Ethical climate in nursing environment: a scoping review.
Nursing ethics, 26(2), pp. 327-345.
JJ Ignacio, B. T., 2013. Ethical issues in health‐care inquiry: A discussion paper.
International journal of nursing practice, Volume 19, pp. 56-61.
Kuczewski, M., 2019. Clinical ethicists awakened: Addressing two generations of clinical
ethics issues involving undocumented patients. The American Journal of Bioethics, 19(4), pp.
51-57.

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NHS, 2005. Mental Capacity Act. [Online]
Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/making-decisions-
for-someone-else/mental-capacity-act/
[Accessed 27 December 2019].
NHS, 2019. NHS App. [Online]
Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/nhs-app/
[Accessed 27 December 2019].
NHS, 2019. NHS patients' rights. [Online]
Available at: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/health/nhs-healthcare/nhs-patients-rights/
[Accessed 28 December 2019].
NMC, 2015. The Code:Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses,
midwives and nursing associates. [Online]
Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/nmc-
code.pdf
[Accessed 27 December 2019].
Tara D.Collard, H. D. A. H. C. H. T. M., 2009. Elective cesarean section: Why women
choose it and what nurses need to know. Nursing for Women's Health, 12(6), pp. 480-488.