Ethical Considerations in Healthcare: A Detailed Case Study Analysis

This essay delves into the complexities of human ethics within the healthcare system, focusing on a specific case study involving a 16-year-old pregnant patient named Jody. It examines the perspectives of healthcare professionals like Hui-Ling Weng and Jessica Blair, who hold differing views on patient autonomy versus the responsibility of healthcare providers to inform patients of potential risks. Weng emphasizes the patient's right to make informed decisions, drawing from the Child Care Act 2004, while Blair advocates for balancing patient rights with the ethical obligation to prevent harm. The essay highlights the tension between patient-centered care and bioethical norms, ultimately underscoring the importance of empowering patients to make informed decisions about their health while considering the ethical responsibilities of healthcare practitioners. The essay utilizes references to support its arguments and provide a comprehensive analysis of the ethical dilemmas presented in the case study.

Running head: HUMAN ETHICS
HUMAN ETHICS
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HUMAN ETHICS
According to Hui-Ling Weng in the healthcare system, the subject who matters the
most would be Jody and her significant others comprising of her family members. Another
group of people who would matter in this case would be staff in the private dental clinic.
Weng is of the view that it is his moral duty to abide by the rules and regulations of the
hospital. It is important be truthful and protect the interests of the stakeholders who are in
need of urgent assistance. In this case it would be Jody and the baby. Weng emphasizes on
the right of Jody to make the best decision regarding her health without any restriction,
intimidation or coercion. Although Jody do not have requite knowledge regarding pregnancy
yet it can be stated that based on the Child Care Act 2004 she has the right to make the best
decision regarding the child. This illustration indicates about the patient-centred care (PCC)
in healthcare where the subjectivity of the patient is respected and patients are deemed as an
active, embodied and indispensable agent for seeking decision regarding their health
(Hannah, 2010). However, this view in conflict with the bioethical norms that considers
patients as inefficient in making decision regarding their health.
On the other hand, Jessica Blair provides an alternative understand to patient
intervention to healthcare. She is of the opinion that mothers should have the right to make
decisions about their child. However, that should not be at the cost of harming the child. She
advocates for patient-centred care and respects the right to privacy of the mother. However,
drawing from the principles of medical ethics she feels that it is her right to inform the
mother (patient) regarding the risks associated with her decision. She emphasizes on the right
of the healthcare practitioner in addition to the right of the patient in a medical setting. A
healthcare practitioner needs to be aware about the consequences related to certain healthcare
practises (Pulvirenti, McMillan & Lawn, 2014). In this case, it is the pernicious effect of
radiography that subjects the foetus to high-risk post parturition phase. In this context, it

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becomes prominent that there is a clash between the perspectives of the patient (client) and
that of the healthcare provider). The medical socialization renders the healthcare practitioner
with immense power and making her believe that she is the repository of medical knowledge.
However as stated by Wolf it is the patient who should feel empowered and make the
ultimate decision about her health.

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References
Hanna, A. (2010). Patient-centred care. Ontario Medical Review, 1, 27.
Pulvirenti, M., McMillan, J., & Lawn, S. (2014). Empowerment, patient centred care and
self‐management.Health Expectations, 17(3), 303-310.