Ethics refers to the issue of morality. Thus, it entails what ought to happen. However, ethics may mean two different things to healthcare providers’ verses patients. For patients, ethics is about how they want to receive treatment, as well as allowed to make their own decision pertaining to their health issues. However, according to the professional offering the healthcare, ethics refers to adherence to standard of ethics promulgated by accredited bodies such as the American Nursing Association or the American Medical Associations for physicians. Codes of ethics guide profession’s goals, values, as well as determining the degree of loyalty in serving the public and the community. The American Nursing Association developed a code of ethics to guide nurses towards ethical treatment for their patients. Similarly, the law requires professionals such as nurses or physicians to abide to certain laws by meeting reasonable treatment standards. Failure for the medical staffs to apply due care in the treatment process can lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Therefore, the decision of the 12 years old boy to terminate chemotherapy together with the consent of his parents to try an alternative course of chemotherapy is not reasonable for the nurses to stop giving the boy chemotherapy as directed by the physician. From an ethics point of view, the nurse is required to go ahead and give the boy chemotherapy as directed by the physician. This complies with the code of ethics that requires registered nurses to have duty of care towards their patients by offering safe and competent care. Therefore, the action of the nurse to precede offering chemotherapy to the boy who is suffering from cancer is in accordance to the professional ethics of observing competence in service delivery. However, the action of the healthcare providers contravenes the law. This is because the law gives even the minors the freedom to choose the kind of treatment fit for them. Therefore, the 12 years old boy can challenge the healthcare providers in the court for continuing offering him chemotherapy despite his decision to stop it (Hawkins, 1996). In addition, the nurse will break the ethical principle of valid consent by continuing chemotherapy despite the boy decision to terminate it. Nurses are required to get consent before giving any treatment of care (Guido, 2009).
Antidepressants are drugs that a qualified medical practitioner can prescribe to treat depression, improve sleep, mode, concentration or appetite. Therefore, the physician is acting as per the law by prescribing antidepressant drug to new resident joining the nursing home. The antidepressant drug will help the new residents to settle more easily in their new environments. The drug will assist them by improving their moods, sleep and concentration (Siribaddana, 2012). However, the method that the physician is using in lying that the antidepressant is a pill is unethical. It is responsibility for physicians, as well as nurses to tell patients the truth. This is important in enhancing the trust between patients and healthcare providers. Not telling the patients the truth brings a great harm to the patients. Telling lies to patients undermine patients’ autonomy and leads to loss of trust, which is imperative in the healing process. Patients have the right to know the truth from their health care providers. Physicians and nurses should therefore, give the patients true information pertaining to their health issue. Although, the law does not consider telling lies as an illegal act for healthcare providers, it is an unethical conduct. The Natural Law theory states that lying violates an objective moral standard. It argues that telling the truth is essential in building and sustaining human relations. It claims that human beings are relational and the failure to tell the truth hinders human relations.
Because of the importance that accompanies telling the truth, physicians, as well as nurses should make it their responsibility to tell their patients the truth at all times. In the second scenario, the physician and the nurse fail in meeting the code of ethics that requires medical professionals to get informed consent. The code requires patients to get accurate information about their illness and intended treatment. Moreover, it requires the healthcare providers to make the patient understand about the proposed treatment. Thus, the physician should take time and explain to the new residents the benefit of the drug he/she is prescribing them. Alternatively, the nurse can explain to the new residents that taking the drug is important in helping them in settling more easily in their new homes by giving them appetite, helping them concentrate as well as having a good mood. It is equally important in informing the new residents of any side effects that may arise from using the drug. This will be important in establishing a strong relationship between the medical staffs and the residents, which will facilitate subsequent interactions. However, telling lies to the new residents may result to lack of trust when they find out that the medical staffs have not been honest. Although the law does not consider telling lies as illegal for healthcare providers, it is unethical behavior, which should end (Drane, 2012).
In conclusion: healthcare providers should ensure that they act legally, as well as ethically in their day-to-day endeavors. Acting legally and ethically is imperative in building essential relations with the patients, which facilitates medication, as well as help them to avoid possible lawsuits for malpractice.
Reference List
Drane, J. (2012). Honesty in Medicine: should doctors tell the truth? Web.
Guido, G. (2009).Legal & Ethical Issues in Nursing (5th ed). New York: Prentice Hall Hawkins, S. (1996). Protecting the Rights and Interests of Competent Minors in Litigation Medical Treatment Disputes. Web.
Siribaddana, P. (2012). Moral, ethical and legal issues regarding prescription medication. Web.