Healthcare Ethics Report: Influenza Immunization Policy Analysis

This report examines the ethical issues arising from a hospital's influenza immunization policy, prompted by a CDC advisory predicting a severe flu season. The analysis considers informed consent, patient autonomy, and employee rights, highlighting the ethical implications of mandatory immunization for staff. The report identifies vulnerable populations, including the elderly, pregnant women, and nursing home residents, emphasizing the need to protect these groups. Recommendations are provided for the hospital Board and C-Suite, including the implementation of disaster preparedness activities, public awareness campaigns, and the formation of a response team. The report stresses the importance of considering ethical principles and employee rights when establishing health policies, with a focus on protecting the public against the impending flu outbreak and aligning with CDC guidelines.

Running head: ETHICAL ISSUES 1
Ethical Issues
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Ethical Issues
Abstract
In this paper, the significant ethical issues that need to be taken into consideration
when establishing health policies like the one issued by the president of medical staff will be
discussed. The importance of taking into consideration these ethical issues will also be
discussed in detail. The groups that health policy being established should target will be
highlighted and the reason why they are the population at risk will be discussed. The paper
will then finalize by outlining clear recommendations to the hospital Board and C-Suite
should.
What issues should be considered in establishing this policy?
One of the issues that should be considered in establishing the policy mentioned is the
informed consent of the staff. Informed consent is defined as the permission that is granted
especially by the patient to doctor for treatment in full knowledge of the possible
consequences (REFERENCE). The president of the medical staff has issued a directive
compelling all medical staff as well as volunteers to receive the influenza vaccine. Since
immunization is part of treatment, it’s important to obtain the permission of the staff who are
to be immunized. This is so because by obtaining the consent, the workers are given an
opportunity to participate in making decisions about their health. Also, the principles of
ethics should be considered when developing this policy. One of the main principles of ethics
that need to be considered in this situation is the patient’s right to autonomy. The patient’s
right to autonomy dictates that the patients have innate rights to make decisions based on
their values and beliefs (Runciman, Merry & Walton, 2017). This means that patients should
not be coerced to have treatment. By directing that immunization is compulsory for all the
staff and threatening to fire those staff who object this directive, the president of medical staff

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is appearing to coerce employees to get immunized which is against the principle of ethics.
Therefore, the president of the medical staff needs to consider this principle when giving such
directives. Also, the rights of employees should be considered when coming up with this type
of policy. One of the main rights of employees dictates that employees should be free from
discrimination and harassment. By giving ultimatums to the employees, the president of the
medical staff is harassing the employees which is against the employees’ rights. Therefore,
it’s important to consider all the rights of employees before coming up with such policies.
To what groups is responsibility owed?
The responsibility is first to protect the vulnerable group or population at risk which
includes the elderly population and the pregnant women. The mortality rates of annual flu
epidemics are very high among the elderly population of above 65 years, children less than 5
years and pregnant women (Stahl & Coeckelbergh, 2016). These groups have weaker
immunity which makes them more susceptible to the virus than other groups. In the elderly
population above 65 years, 90% of seasoned flu deaths and 70% of seasoned flu
hospitalization due occur during flu season (Runciman, Merry & Walton, 2017). This shows
how vulnerable this group is to the flu. In pregnant women, changes in the immune system
weaken their immunity making them more prone to severe illnesses from flu (Stahl &
Coeckelbergh, 2016). Children less than five years of age generally have weaker immunity
because their immunity still developing making them vulnerable to the flu. Also, the residents
of nursing homes are at high risk of developing the virus. This is so because the flu is
transmitted by contact with infected people and infected objects. Residents of nursing homes
more often come in contact with bodies of people who have died from the virus which makes
them vulnerable to the virus. Since these groups are the most at risk, efforts should first be
directed to immunize these groups. Generally, a flu vaccine is the most effective way of
protecting people against the flu. Generally, a flu vaccine is the most effective way of

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protecting people against the flu. However, the flu is also transmitted via air which means
that the general public is at risk. Therefore there needs to be measures put in place to protect
the public at large.
What will you recommend to the hospital Board and C-Suite?
CDC is a special agency in the United States that serves to improve the health of the
general public by conducting health prevention and preparedness activities. The primary role
of the CDC is to promote the health of the general public and since the impending flu
outbreak is threatening the health of the public, it’s the responsibility of the CDC to take
control of the situation. Aside from carrying out immunization procedures as discussed
above, I will recommend that the hospital Board and C-Suite implement various disaster
preparedness activities to protect the public against the flu. In implementing these activities, I
will first advice that the hospital Board and C-Suit inform the public about the impending
disaster and assure the public of their safety. This is important because people have the right
to information about their health. Disaster preparedness activities that I will recommend for
CDC hospital Board and C-Suite include assembling the response team that will operate
starting from the community level to the national level. The response team will be
responsible for handling emergency cases during the flu season by isolating, containing and
neutralizing the flu incident. Also, the response team will direct the activities of various
departments involved in the emergency response and recovery. With the strategic team in
place, I will recommend that the hospital Board and C-Suite organize for thorough training of
the team regarding how to respond to the flu outbreak effectively. CDC should subject the
team selected into a thorough training to equip them with the necessary skills of responding
to the outbreak that is impending. Training is also important as it will instill the spirit of
teamwork to the team as well as improve the coordination of disaster response. Also, I will
recommend that the CDC Board and C-Suite plan for critical structures that will be used to

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respond to the outbreak. These structures should be strategically set out starting from the
community level to the national level and should be equipped with all necessary equipment
that will enable an effective response to the flu outbreak. For example, surgical masks,
gloves, and gowns should be present in this structure to enable medical officers to handle the
patients effectively. Moreover, I will recommend that the hospital Board and C-Suite
organize for sensitization campaign to create awareness about the impacts of flu, how its
transmitted and possible measures that the public can use to protect themselves against the
virus. For example, the best way one protect himself against the virus is by first, avoiding
people who are coughing or sneezing since the virus is airborne. Also, covering one's mouth
with a tissue when coughing will help protect those around you.

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Reference
Runciman, B., Merry, A., & Walton, M. (2017). Safety and ethics in healthcare: a guide to
getting it right. CRC Press.
Stahl, B. C., & Coeckelbergh, M. (2016). Ethics of healthcare robotics: Towards responsible
research and innovation. Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 86, 152-161.