Ethics refers to the perception of what is considered morally right or wrong and bad or good. Approaches used in ethics include normative and descriptive methods. Moral problems are defined as conflicts that are difficult to solve in health care professionals between right and wrong and require moral solutions. Healthcare providers in various health organizations experience moral problems during their practice. Morality is defined as a notion of beliefs, rules, principles that are regarded as right or wrong. However, the main objective of morality and ethics is to reduce the effect of pain on patients. A rise of moral problems in professionals occurs because of professional obligations and professional standards during care provision to the patients (Beauchamp, 2016). When there is conflict upsurge, usually the application of philosophy becomes beneficial. Rational thinking most often helps health providers to solve increased conflicts.
Why Moral Problems are Considered Moral Dilemmas
Moral problems are considered moral dilemmas because challenges incurred in problem-solving are not between right or wrong but rather view valid norms as two rights. Therefore, the dilemma prevails due to conflict between self-interests professionals and the moral requirements, “Facing and reasoning through dilemmas to conclusions and choices is a familiar feature of the human condition” (Beauchamps, 2016). In case of a moral dilemma, healthcare providers need to make choices, options available are not pragmatic leading to choices that lack clarity. Therefore, leading to reduced quality of care, development of moral stress, and problems in clinical friendships. For instance, when a patient is suffering from cancer stage 4 and is in deep pain despite the chemotherapy does not require any intervention. Health professionals watch the patient suffering; in this scenario, any intervention leads to a rise in agony and pain, thus putting the healthcare providers in a dilemma. The obligation to provide therapeutic intervention to the patient becomes a moral dilemma.
In another example, healthcare providers are giving care to a patient in an intensive care unit (ICU) in a debilitating condition whose culture denies a medical provider is not given a chance to tell the patient that they are dying. The situation becomes a predicament for the patient to be informed about how the condition worsens and does not stand a chance of survival. The moral dilemma is portrayed as the healthcare professionals are too emotional, are willing to explain the state of health to the patient but are restricted by the culture, thus keeping that on themselves. Health professionals feel emotionally disturbed and respect their clients’ culture as portrayed in the code of ethics. Health providers face compromised decision-making, especially in serious illnesses where patients are attached to the life-supporting machine.
Moral problems have been on the rise in recent times, making ethical issues a matter of concern amongst healthcare providers. Issues of ethical dilemmas need continuous education to health providers and additional clinical training that makes moral problems a center of discussion. Open discussions regarding ethical issues aid health professionals in learning from mistakes made by others and equip them with a better approach while facing ethical challenges. Experienced healthcare providers should share their experience and provide therapeutic lessons learned to the rest of the health staff. They should demonstrate empathy that will help enable them to portray professional boundaries while practicing their careers. Departmental head nurses should always involve ethical team members whenever they are faced with an ethical dilemma. Equally, whenever health professionals identify gaps in ethical dilemma intervention, they should review and update their knowledge on the code of ethics.
Reference
Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J.F. (2016). A defense of universal principles in biomedical ethics. In biolaw and policy in the twenty-first century (7th ed). Springer, Cham.