Ethical dilemma in healthcare examples and solutions

When faced with an ethical dilemma, health care workers have to make choices that can often mean the difference between life and death. This can be scary and stressful because they are the only ones who can make the choice. Before making a choice, people who work in health care must think about all the information and points of view they have.

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When faced with an ethical dilemma, healthcare workers must weigh the pros and cons of each choice to make the best decision for their patients. These problems can be hard to solve, but they are necessary for giving care. Healthcare providers can be better prepared to make the best choices for their patients if they know about different ethical dilemmas and how to handle them.

In the next piece, we will look at examples and solutions of ethical dilemmas in healthcare and talk about how to make decisions in these tough situations.

What is an ethical dilemma?

There is no clear right or wrong answer in an ethical problem. There are often ethical problems in healthcare because there are so many things a health care worker could do, and each one could affect the lives of other people.

Before they do anything, people who work in health care must think about how their actions affect ethics. For example, a doctor may have to decide whether or not to give a patient treatment that could save his or her life even though it may not be paid by insurance.

This can put a financial strain on the patient and their family, and the doctor could lose their job as a result. When a pregnant woman is told she has a high chance of losing her baby, that is another example of an ethical problem in healthcare. She might have to decide whether to have an abortion or keep the pregnancy going, knowing that she might lose the baby either way.

Moral problem or ethical dilemma?

We often use these terms for right and wrong as if they mean the same thing. But there is a difference between a moral problem and an ethical dilemma. A moral dilemma is a scenario in which two morally right choices seem to be at odds with each other, and neither choice is better.

On the other hand, an ethical dilemma is a situation where there are two morally right choices that are at odds with each other, but one choice may have more ethically troubling results than the other.

When you are in a moral quandary, you have to think about the pros and cons of each choice and make the best choice you can. The most important thing is to be honest with yourself about what each choice would mean and why you would choose each one. It is also important to be aware of your own opinions and how they might affect the choices you make.

The trolley problem is a well-known case of a moral problem. In this situation, you can let a trolley full of people crash into a group of five people, or you can pull a switch to send the trolley on a different track where it will hit only one person. Both decisions lead to death, but most people would say that taking the trolley in a different direction is the more moral choice because it leads to fewer deaths.

Ethical problems for nurses

As a nurse, you will often have to decide what is the right thing to do. By following the code of ethics for nurses, nurses can solve many of these problems. But the code of ethics is not always clear about how to act in certain cases. In these situations, you have to use your best sense to figure out what to do.

Nurses often have to decide whether or not to share private information, whether or not to treat a patient who refuses treatment, and how to deal with patients who do not take their medications as prescribed.

Trying to figure out what to do in these tough situations can be very stressful. It is important to give yourself time to think about what you think is right. A moral dilemma is when a nurse has to choose between two acts that are both morally right. This can be a hard choice to make because both solutions could have good and bad results.

There are a few things nurses can do to help with this.

First, you need to figure out what is at stake.
Think about what could happen with each choice.
Talk to other nurses or ethicists to get a variety of points of view. In the end, the nurse must make the choice based on what she thinks is best for the patient.
How to spot moral problems in nursing

There are a few key things to look for when it comes to ethical issues in nursing.

Almost any situation that could hurt or upset a patient is likely to be an ethical problem.
Ethical dilemmas can also happen when there is a conflict of interest between the nurse and the patient or the nurse and the rest of the health care team.
Any time a nurse does not know what to do or is not sure what to do, this is probably an ethical problem. For example, if a patient wants to die but the nurse thinks it is their job to keep them living, this is an ethical dilemma.
Lastly, you should be on the lookout for any choice that could change someone is life in a big way. For example, if a nurse is thinking about whether or not to report a coworker they think is acting unethically, it is a big choice that could have serious consequences.

The code of ethics for nurses

A nurse’s code of ethics is a set of rules that help them make sure their patients get the best care possible. Every day, nurses have to decide what is the right thing to do, so they need a clear code of ethics to help them.

The code of ethics for nurses also tells them how to handle tough scenarios. It is important for nurses to remember that they have a responsibility to their patients and should always do what is best for them. This means that sometimes hard choices have to be made to make sure the patient gets the best care possible.

The nurse’s code of ethics is based on four main ideas. The goal of these principles is to set a professional standard for nurses that protects the rights and respect of patients and makes sure they get good care. The code of ethics for nurses is an important part of what makes the nursing field what it is. Among these rules are:

Respect for the individual

Respect for liberty is important in nursing because it makes sure that each patient is treated as a unique person with different needs and wants. It also lets nurses speak up for the rights and best interests of their patients. When making choices about how to care for a patient, nurses should always think about what is best for the patient.

beneficence

According to the idea of beneficence, nurses should always do what is best for their patients. This means caring for the patient in a way that respects his or her autonomy and honor, working to improve the patient’s health, and keeping the patient safe from harm.

non-maleficence

The idea of doing no harm. Nurses must not hurt their patients, this theory says. Nurses must always do what is best for their patients and put their safety and health ahead of everything else.

The job of a nurse is to keep their patients safe. They should never put their patients in danger on purpose or by being careless. If a nurse thinks that a patient is in danger, they have a job to tell the right people.

justice

As a nurse, you have to follow a certain set of rules. This set of rules is based on the ideas of fairness, respect, and kindness. As a nurse, it is your job to give good care. You should always be kind and respectful to your people. You should also treat your patients and their families with kindness. Justice means that nurses should treat all of their patients the same way.

Ethical problem questions

When it comes to moral problems, there are no simple solutions. But that does not mean you should not ask the hard questions. Here are some questions about moral dilemmas to make you think:

Is there ever a time when it is okay to lie? When, if ever, is it better to tell a “white lie” instead of the truth?
Is it moral to break the law to protest a law that you think is unfair?
Is it morally okay to kill someone, even if it is for self-defense? In war? In death punishment cases?
How do we find a balance between the need for privacy and the right of the people to know?
Should I treat a patient who is not sticking to their treatment plan?
What should I do if I think a patient is making a choice that will hurt them?
How do I deal with people and families who want different things?
Is it moral to refuse to help a patient who can not pay for it?
Is it moral to give a patient who can not pay for better care care that is not up to par?
Is it moral to limit care based on things like age or health?
Is it wrong to tell a patient a lie about how they are going to get better?
Is it moral to kill a patient who has a disease that will kill them soon?
What is the right thing to do?
What are the possible rewards and risks of each choice?
What are my beliefs, and how do they affect how I make choices?
What are the moral rules that I use to make decisions?
What are the possible outcomes for each choice?
Whom will this decision affect, and how?

Cases of moral dilemmas for kids

When it comes to cases that involve a medical-ethical problem, nurses deal with them every day. But what if it was you in the situation? How would you deal with that? We have put together five different ethical dilemmas for nursing students so you can get an idea of what you might face one day.

Scenario 1: A patient with end-stage renal illness comes to your unit. The patient is not on dialysis and has said they do not want to start. The patient’s family is pushing you to start dialysis, but the patient is firm about not wanting treatment. What do you do?

Scenario 2: One of your patients is a Jehovah’s Witness, and even though they need a blood donation, they refuse to get one.

Scenario 3: You are taking care of a person with a terminal illness who has chosen to stop treatment. The patient has asked you not to tell anyone about this. But you know that the patient might not get the palliative care they need if you do not tell the patient’s doctor about your choice. What do you do?

Scenario 4: A patient comes to you to ask if she should get an abortion or not. You know that supporting abortion goes against your personal views, but you also know that it is the legal right of the patient to make this choice.

Scenario 5: A patient with a terminal illness comes to your unit and asks that no steps be taken to keep them alive. But the patient’s family wants all possible steps to be taken to help their loved one live longer. What do you do as the nurse?

Scenario 6: You have been taking care of a patient who is close to dying. The patient has said that he or she wants to die at home, with family and friends nearby. But their family does not want them to leave the hospital and wants them to stay there.

Scenario 7: During a visit, a patient tells the nurse something private. The nurse feels like she should keep this information secret, but she is not sure if she should tell the patient’s doctor about it.

Scenario 8: A nurse sees another healthcare worker mistreating a patient. The nurse is not sure if she should tell anyone about what happened because she does not want to get the other worker in trouble.

Scenario 9: You are working in a busy emergency room when a car accident victim comes in. He is out of his mind and has many wounds. Doctors say he will not live unless he gets a blood transfusion right away, but his family does not want him to get one for faith reasons.

Scenario 10: You have to take care of a person who has HIV. He tells you that he does not want anyone else to know about his illness because he is afraid of discrimination.

Examples of ethical issues in health care

When it comes to making hard choices in healthcare, ethical issues happen often. Here are some examples of ethical issues that health care workers may have to deal with:

A person who has a fatal illness and only a few months to live goes to the hospital. The patient’s family is very religious, and they do not want them to get treatments like artificial breathing or dialysis that could help them live longer. But the patient is still young and wants to fight for his or her life. As a health care worker, you have to decide if you should follow the patient’s wishes or those of their family.
You are a cancer specialist who works as a doctor. A close friend of yours has a form of cancer that spreads quickly and wants you to help them. But you know that there are not many chances that the treatment will work.
A person goes to the hospital with a disease that could kill them. The doctor knows that if they do not move quickly, the patient will die. But the patient has said they do not want any harsh treatment and would rather let nature take its course. In this case, the doctor has to decide whether to honor the patient’s wishes or go against them in order to save the patient’s life.
A pregnant woman goes to the hospital because she has a disease that could kill her. The doctor knows that both the mother and the baby will die if they do not act quickly.
Should a person with a disease that will kill them soon be kept living by machines?
How should you deal with a patient who wants help killing themselves?
Should patients know the truth about their outlook, even if it is bad?
What is the best way to share rare resources, such as organs for transplantation?
A person has a disease that will kill them soon, and they want to die. They come to you for help, as their doctor. This goes against the Hippocratic Oath, which says, “If someone asks me for a drug that could kill them, I will not give it to them, and I will not even suggest it.”
A patient wants to know their outlook, but you are not sure if they can handle the truth. If you told them, it could cause them too much stress and worry. If you do not tell them, they might not be able to make important choices about their care and treatment.
A patient asks you to tell their insurance company that their situation is worse than it really is so that they can get permission for a procedure they need. It is unethical to lie, but it may also be wrong to not do everything you can to help your patient.
The “double effect” is one of the most common ethical problems in healthcare. This is when a doctor recommends a medicine that has both good and bad effects. For example, a person with cancer might be given a drug called chemotherapy that will make them very sick but will hopefully kill the cancer cells.
Another common moral problem is whether or not to help people who can not pay for care.
Answers to moral problems

When it comes to ethical dilemmas in healthcare, a few key answers can help.

Communication is important.

If you are worried about a situation, talk to your boss or someone else you can trust.

Always keep in mind how important informed agreement is.

Make sure that the patient knows all of their choices before they make a choice.

Keep the patient’s privacy in mind at all times.

Even if a situation makes you feel uncomfortable, remember that it is not your job to talk about a patient with someone else without their permission.

Be honest with your people.

This means being honest about risks and rewards and giving information in a way that is easy to understand.

Involve people in decision-making

This can help make sure that choices are based on what is best for the patient and not on what is easiest or most profitable for the provider.

Make sure you know about the latest ethics rules.
stick to the code of ethics set by their professional groups

This code of ethics tells healthcare workers how they should act in different situations.

Another option is for healthcare organizations to set up policies and procedures for dealing with ethical dilemmas.

When an employee faces an ethical dilemma, these rules and procedures can help them figure out what to do.

Educating and training healthcare workers on ethical issues can help them spot and fix ethical problems.

Do nothing and hope the trouble will go away on its own.

This is generally not the best thing to do because it makes things worse.

Try to talk to both sides of the problem and find a solution.

This can not be easy, since people have very different ideas of what is right and wrong. But if both sides are ready to talk and find a middle ground, this can be a good way to solve the problem.

If all else fails, you can ask a higher authority for help.

This could be a boss at work, a judge in court, or even God, if the problem has to do with religion. You can also talk to a group on ethics. Most of the time, these groups are made up of experts in the field who know how to solve the problem. They can also tell you about tools that might be able to help you solve the problem.

Bottom line

The ethical problem in healthcare is hard to solve because it is complicated. But it is important to think about the choices and make the best choice for the patient. The healthcare business is always changing, so it is important to know what is new so you can make the best decisions for your patients.

There are many things to think about when making healthcare choices, such as the patient’s needs, the patient, the patient’s rights, and the healthcare provider’s responsibilities. Solving these problems can be hard, but it is important to think about all of your options and make the best choice for the patient.