Ethical principles of nursing

 First scenario

In the first scenario, I would apply the principle of respect for autonomy (Rumun, 2014). Note that the patient has moral value and dignity, and I would respect her choice to reject my recommendation as a physician. I have the confidence that blood transfusion will save her life, but because she refuses medical intervention because of her religious beliefs, I would respect her beliefs and set aside my own beliefs. As a young mother/patient, she very well knows that as a physician, I recommend what is best. However, she holds her religious principles tightly, and for this reason, I would respect her beliefs since it seems like they are significant to her health.

 Second scenario

 In this scenario, I would apply the principle of beneficence. In other words, I would provide the older person who has no family with emergency care. Note that as a physician, I am the first person on the scene and since the older person has a life-threating emergency, I would put the principle of beneficence into practice and save the patient's life (Ludwick & Silva, 2003). I would try too hard to do good to improve the patient's health.

 Third scenario

            In this scenario, I would apply the principle of beneficence. I would accept the husband's decisions with the motive of promoting good and minimizing harm (Bester, Cole, & Kodish, 2016). Note that in this situation, the female patient is unconscious, and this means she cannot decide on the treatment. In other words, she is not capable of giving informed consent.  Since this is an emergency, I would accept the husband's decision and administer emergency treatment (blood transfusion). The husband should decide on behalf of the female patient so that we can protect the patient from harm.

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Rumun, A. J. (2014). Influence of religious beliefs on healthcare practice. International Journal

of Education and Research, 2(4), 37-47.

 

Ludwick, R., & Silva, M. (2003). Ethics Column:" Ethical Challenges in the Care of Elderly

Persons. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 9(1).

 

Bester, J., Cole, C. M., & Kodish, E. (2016). The limits of informed consent for an overwhelmed

patient: clinicians’ role in protecting patients and preventing overwhelm. AMA journal of

ethics, 18(9), 869-886.