Critical Care Ethics: Analyzing JoEllen's Case with Ethical Theories

This essay analyzes an ethical dilemma in healthcare, specifically a case involving a 53-year-old woman, JoEllen, who attempts suicide and has a notarized advance directive refusing life support. The essay applies three major ethical theories—deontology, consequentialism, and virtue ethics—to this scenario. Deontology, emphasizing adherence to rules and duties, is contrasted with consequentialism, which focuses on the outcomes of actions. Virtue ethics, which prioritizes moral character and values, is also examined. The essay discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each theory in the context of JoEllen's case, considering the conflict between the healthcare professionals' duty to preserve life and the patient's expressed wishes. The analysis explores how each ethical framework would guide decision-making, ultimately aiming to justify a stance on the most ethical course of action in this complex situation. The essay concludes by weighing the perspectives of each theory and highlighting the importance of respecting patient autonomy, even when it conflicts with the instinct to save a life.

Ethics in Healthcare
Student’s Details

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Ethics in Healthcare
Ethics in Healthcare
Ethics in the healthcare sector refers as an application of principles related to bioethics
which include autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice which reflect in medical and
healthcare professional's decisions (Vermont Ethics Model, 2020). This discussion covers
ethical dilemma faced by the healthcare professionals. A 53 years old lady namely Jo Ellen, had
a suicidal attempt and her son has notarized direction which clarifies that the lady
specifically deny for life support. But as a healthcare professional, the first duty of a doctor is
saving people’s life. Now is difficult for the health professionals to deciding whether letting the
lady die or giving her life support and try to save her life. There are some ethical theories such as
deontological, consequentialist, and virtue theory which will be helpful for the making decision
for healthcare professionals in such an ethical dilemma.
A Greek philosopher namely Immanuel Kant introduced deontology theory. The theory
of deontology forces on the action those are right or wrong instead of the consequences of the
actions. This theory advocates for attempting the right actions under a series of rules and norms.
According to deontology, in the above scenario healthcare professionals should consider as on
the action. Yet deontology avoids the concept of maximum good or social welfare and centered
on human experience, personal skills, and insights while making a decision. In this scenario,
major action is giving life support to Jo Ellen and considering the will of her. Although the
consequences of this act will lead to the death of the lady, this approach says that a person should
take action as per the norms (Barrow & Khandhar, 2019). This theory is centered on professional
duties, thus as per written notarized direction healthcare professionals should not give the life
support to the lady.

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Ethics in Healthcare
Another theory namely consequentialism ethical theory states on opposite aspects of
deontology theory. This theory judges an act by the consequences and outcome of the action.
This theory says that actions are not right and wrong. As per the theory, it is the result of the act
to determine whether the act is right or wrong (Everett, Faber, & Crockett, 2018). This theory
gives an equal share of happiness which leads to more objective centered decisions. Although
this theory has many good points yet it is hard to apply in practical situations, besides it is hard to
measure and estimating the consequences of actions. In the above-discussed scenario the act of
providing life support to the lady who does not want this support. Now as per this theory not
giving life support the lady may result in the death of the lady, which is against of the duties of
healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals supposed to save people's life at any cost. But
if they provide life support to her it will be against her will which is a violation of her will and
court's directions.
Similarly, virtue ethics are normative ethics theory which is developed by Aristotle. This
theory is centered on virtues of mind, sense of honesty, and other problems that are related
consequences and focus on outcomes or consequences of actions. This theory develops an
understanding of the means of human life. Unlike Consequentialism and deontology virtue
theory does not focus on actions and consequences rather it focuses on humanity or human
values (Morris & Morris, 2016). This theory motivates people to work morally and for self-
improvement. But virtues and morals are not clearly defined, they vary from one person to
another. Besides ignorance for the action based on right and wrong is also a questionable subject
(Clifford, 2013). In this scenario where a 53 years old lady does not want life support and want
to end her life, healthcare professionals to make a decision on morals and virtues rather than
ethical rules, duties, and consequences of their actions. Here healthcare professionals supposed

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to respect her will and should not provide her life support regardless of the consequences of the
action.
After review deontology, consequentialism and virtue ethics it has been found that every
approach has its accepting and rejecting points on this situation. Virtue ethics and deontology
approaches advocate for actions, morality, and values in actions and human behavior. As per
these approaches health professionals supposed to do not give life support to the lady because
this action respects the will of the lady and shows honesty towards her decision even when she is
not conscious. Besides, this action is also followed by norms and rules as she as a notarized
direction for her will.

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Bibliography
Barrow, M., & Khandhar, B. P. (2019). Deontology. StatPearls Publishing.
Clifford, D. (2013). Limitations of Virtue Ethics in the Social Professions. Ethics and Social
Welfare, 2-19.
Everett, A. C., Faber, S. N., & Crockett, J. M. (2018). The costs of being consequentialist: Social
inference from instrumental harm and impartial beneficence. Journal of Experimental
Social Psychology, 200-216.
Morris, C. M., & Morris, Z. J. (2016). The importance of virtue ethics in the IRB. Research
Ethics, 201-216.
Vermont Ethics Model. (2020). Medical Ethics. Retrieved February 29, 2020, from Vermont
Ethics Model: https://vtethicsnetwork.org/medical-ethics