Sample Answer for PHI 413 Topic 3 DQ 1Included After Question
The four principles of biomedical ethics, especially in the context of bioethics in the United States, have often been critiqued for raising the principle of autonomy to the highest place, such that it trumps all other principles or values. Based on your worldview, how do you rank the importance of each of the four principles in order to protect the health and safety of diverse populations?
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to the “Discussion Question Rubric” and “Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
This assignment aligns with AACN Core Competencies: 3.1
A Sample Answer For the Assignment: PHI 413 Topic 3 DQ 1
Title: PHI 413 Topic 3 DQ 1
Feel free to respond to this post; at least your first response answering this prompt will qualify as substantive.
The four principles covered in this topic deal with four core values to be sought after and upheld in healthcare; these four are autonomy, beneficience, nonmaleficence, and justice. How do you know which of these four applies to what?
Below you will find a list of sample healthcare situations. To get credit for your substantive post, copy and paste the names of each patient from this list into your reply, and for each patient identify which principle is at the heart of his/her medical issue (autonomy, beneficience, nonmaleficence, or justice), and a one-sentence reason why you chose that one. (By the way, you may or may not use all four principles.)
Terry Schaivo is in a coma with no advanced medical directive. Her husband wants to pull the feeding tube and allow her to die; her parents want the feeding tube to remain in case she wakes.
Due to advances in medical technology, Tina has discovered the gender of her baby extremely early; she had wanted a different gender, and since abortions are still available at this stage of the pregnancy, she requests one.
CJ is a working adult and a veteran with chronic nerve pain in his leg from combat. He learns that medical marijuana may help his intense bouts of pain, and requests his medical team look into prescribing him some form of medical cannabis, which this medical practice has never done before.
Ryan, a 19-year-old college athlete, is rushed to the ER in the middle of the night with piercing chest pain. The nurse on duty administers a painkiller, and passes the patient to a second nurse who wheels Ryan to get X-rayed. Ryan insists on standing up for the X-ray, but passes out from the effects of the painkiller, bruising his head on the machine as he collapses.
I’m not looking for a particular answer; I am looking to see you practice the critical analysis in deciding what goes with what. Enjoy!
In Terry Schaivo’s case, the principle of autonomy is at the heart of the medical issue. The conflict arises between her husband’s decision to withdraw life support (reflecting Terry’s presumed wishes) and her parents’ desire to maintain the feeding tube, highlighting the importance of respecting Terry’s autonomy even in the absence of an advanced medical directive.
For Tina, the principle of autonomy is again prominent. Her request for an abortion due to the early gender revelation aligns with her right to make decisions about her own body and reproductive choices, emphasizing the ethical principle of respecting individual autonomy in healthcare decisions.
In CJ’s situation, the principle of beneficence is key. Considering the potential benefits of medical marijuana in alleviating chronic pain, his request aligns with the ethical obligation of healthcare providers to promote the well-being of the patient, supporting the principle of beneficence.
In Ryan’s case, the principle of nonmaleficence is central. The administration of a painkiller and subsequent insistence on standing for an X-ray resulted in harm, emphasizing the importance of avoiding harm and minimizing risks in healthcare practices, supporting the principle of nonmaleficence.
It’s crucial to note that these principles often overlap in complex medical situations, and their application may vary based on the specific context and ethical considerations. (Beauchamp & Childress, 2019).
Reference
Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of biomedical ethics. Oxford University Press.
A Sample Answer 2 For the Assignment: PHI 413 Topic 3 DQ 1
Title: PHI 413 Topic 3 DQ 1
The four bioethics include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and Justice, which are applied differently in healthcare situations. The principle of autonomy focuses on respecting an individual’s right to make their own decisions about their healthcare (Varkey, 2021). The principle of beneficence focuses on acting in the patient’s best interests, while the principle of non-maleficence emphasizes “do no harm.” Healthcare is anchored on the principle of Justice that ensures fairness and equity in healthcare (Palmquist, 2020).
In the case study provided, Terry Schaivo’s case focuses on autonomy. It is because her ability to make personal decisions can be affected by her husband and her parent’s strong opinion to continue receiving life-sustaining treatment. In the case of Tina, the primary bioethical principle is autonomy. It is because she has the right to decide to terminate or keep the pregnancy without involving others.
CJ’s case is anchored on the principle of beneficence since, based on his chronic condition, the medical team should consider Medical marijuana in providing adequate care. Ryan’s case focuses on the principle of non-maleficence since the nurse of duty would have taken necessary precautions to prevent Ryan from falling and injuring himself after administering the painkiller. Therefore, the bioethics principle can be applied to different cases to solve ethical dilemmas in healthcare.
References
Palmquist, B. (2020). Equity, Participation, and Power: Achieving Health Justice Through Deep Democracy. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 48(3), 393–410. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073110520958863
Varkey, B. (2021). Principles of Clinical Ethics and Their Application to Practice. Medical Principles and Practice, 30(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119