Introduction
Nowadays, healthcare involves many ethical and legal issues, one of which pertains to vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests administering thirteen different immunizations for underaged children (Reavis et al., 2017). The significant decrease in childhood diseases, some of which are already uncommon in the United States, is entirely attributable to vaccinations (Reavis et al., 2017). Nevertheless, low vaccination rates in the United States are a significant public health problem and have been linked to many epidemics. Some families are still reluctant to vaccinate their children, notwithstanding the medical data that suggests vaccinations are harmless for the vast majority of children and help avoid childhood morbidity and mortality rates. As a result, the matter of vaccination involves many ethical issues involving autonomy, paternalism, and veracity.
Principles of Ethical Reasoning and Upheld Ethical Issues
Reavis and colleagues conducted research that involved two studies, with one sample group being given the correct information about the lack of connection between vaccines and autism and another group undergoing the self-affirmation process. In the end, the first group showed less bias toward child vaccinations, whereas the second group became more apprehensive (Reavis et al., 2017). Among the identified principles of ethical reasoning in the article are autonomy, which “promotes self-determination and freedom of choice,” paternalism, when “one individual assumes the right to make decisions for another,” and veracity, which is the “obligation to tell the truth” (Marquis & Huston, 2017, p.87). As for the upheld issues, the first involved Provision 1, such as “practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person” (American Nurses Association, n.d., p.5). The researchers respected the decisions and perspectives of the participants. Moreover, another upheld issue involves Provision 5, “responsibility to promote health and safety” (American Nurses Association, n.d., p.5). In their correcting material, researchers provided the benefits of vaccinating children. No theory–practice–ethics gaps were identified since researchers provided theory, which was followed by practice and implementation of ethical principles.
Ethical Issues’ Analysis
Next, while analyzing ethical issues with the MORAL decision-making model, it must be mentioned that autonomy stems from Provision 1 and beneficence that stems from Provision 5. Autonomy implies the ability of an individual to make an informed decision regarding health aspects (Doherty, 2020). The first sample group had access to the correct information about vaccination benefits. Their options involved either seeking vaccination or being against it. While vaccines protect children against diseases, such as measles, a lack of them makes the child’s health vulnerable. The implementation strategy in their case involved choosing vaccination. In turn, another ethical issue, beneficence, involves acting in the interest of patients (Doherty, 2020). The researchers, in their study, provided the first sample group with information regarding vaccination misconceptions. Their options involved either carrying out only a self-affirmation study or one that involved correcting information. Consequently, with the benefit of informing patients about vaccine advantages, the researchers chose the first option.
Legal Issues
Among the most common legal issues in the healthcare field are the ones about informed consent and confidentiality. In the given article, researchers obtained digital and written informed consent forms and ensured the confidentiality of the participants by not including specific types of information about the sample groups. As for the importance of separating ethical and legal issues concerning decision-making, it can be explained by the fact that improper decision-making can lead to violations of law and ethical codes of conduct simultaneously.
Personal Approaches
Finally, when it comes to ethical perspectives that most and least reflect personal approaches to ethical analysis and decision-making, it could be vital to mention beneficence as the most reflective and autonomy as the least reflective. When it comes to ethical analysis and decision-making, I first concentrate on the benefits of provided care and the lack of harm. Then I focus on autonomy and how it can be helpful to the patient. Ethical principles guide my practice throughout my practice since they separate appropriate approaches from negative ones. However, at times they might be in conflict, which necessitates prioritizing. For example, one might find the principles of justice and beneficence in conflict, and here I would have to remain professional and analyze what would benefit the interests of the patient. As a result, when the principles conflict, I am driven by clients’ priorities.
Conclusion
In sum, numerous ethical questions, including autonomy, paternalism, and veracity, arise when it comes to vaccination. Autonomy, paternalism, and honesty are a few of the ethical reasoning concepts that are mentioned in the article. The problems that were raised have to do with respect for the individual and the duty to advance health and safety. Confidentiality and informed consent-related legal difficulties are among the most prevalent in the healthcare industry. Finally, it may be essential to note that beneficence is the ethical perspective that most closely reflects individual approaches to ethical thinking and decision-making, whereas autonomy is the least reflective. Since they distinguish between right and improper techniques, ethical standards serve as my practice’s compass throughout all aspects of my work.
References
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). The code of ethics for nurses. ANA. Web.
Doherty, R. F. (2020). Ethical dimensions in the health professions. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2017). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing (9th ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health. Web.
Reavis, R. D., Ebbs, J. B., Onunkwo, A. K., & Sage, L. M. (2017). A self-affirmation exercise does not improve intentions to vaccinate among parents with negative vaccine attitudes (and may decrease intentions to vaccinate). PloS One, 12(7), 1-18. Web.