Applying the principles of nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and autonomy in healthcare is crucial for many reasons. Firstly, care providers who practice by the principle of nonmaleficence choose treatments that will not harm the patient, thus reducing the possibility of complications or side effects from the treatment (Morrison & Furlong, 2019). Secondly, the principle of beneficence encourages medical professionals to prescribe evidence-based treatments that increase the chances of recovery. Thirdly, practicing justice in healthcare means providing equal access and quality of care to various populations (Morrison & Furlong, 2019). This assists in reducing health disparities evident in many communities and improves health on a national level. Lastly, the protection of patient autonomy means that patients can choose their preferred course of treatment or reject treatment if it conflicts with their beliefs. This helps to avoid harm to patients’ mental health and their self-image, which are both critical for wellbeing.
The uncertainty with regards to the moral status of embryos is an important issue that influences the care of pregnant women. As shown by Morrison and Furlong (2019), people often disagree on whether or not embryos should have the moral status of a person. Indeed, there is no national policy that determines the moral status of an embryo, and thus, there are irregularities in ethics and legislation. This creates ethical challenges for health professionals. For instance, if embryos had the moral status equal to their mothers’, it would be ethically wrong to perform abortions even in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the mother’s life. In cases where a mother would not survive the pregnancy, healthcare providers are required to make decisions that would end one life and save the other. These concerns influence healthcare ethics and obstruct decision-making in prenatal care.
Deontology will benefit my practice by highlighting the importance of my duty to patients and motivating me to work on helping patients. It could also assist in resolving ethical dilemmas involving patients’ spouses or family members because applying this theory means prioritizing the patient’s interests. Additionally, deontology will help me in applying ethical principles consistently, because I believe that, as a care provider, it is my duty to do so. Utilitarianism will be useful for me because it would support me in choosing the most beneficial treatment. It will also help me to avoid harming patients by considering the consequences of each decision. Moreover, applying utilitarianism will allow me to maintain a work-life balance because I would be able to help more patients if I am alert, well-rested, and satisfied with my job.
The growth in life expectancy prompted an increase in the share of older adults. However, most of them suffer from chronic health conditions, including mental health decline. Thus, the two most important issues for older patients are access to care and decision-making. The problem of access to care relates to the principles of justice and beneficence because many older adults cannot receive medical services they need because of costs, distance, or poor health literacy. Improving access to care would benefit many older adults who live with chronic conditions. The principles of autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence are linked to the issue of decision-making. This is because cognitive and mental decline reduces older adults’ decision-making capacity, and thus, care providers or family members are required to make decisions for them. Applying the ethical principles mentioned above would help to find optimal solutions to improve patients’ wellbeing.
Reference
Morrison, E. E., & Furlong, B. (2019). Health care ethics: Critical issues for the 21st century (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.