Introduction
In the short story “Power” by Frank Huyler, the ethical principle of autonomy is violated when healthcare workers face the problem of allowing patients complete independence from medical control. The issue has also raised concerns about people’s freedom and ability to control their lives by being hospitalized. The essay will discuss three instances where the violation of autonomy is present, support facts with citations from the story, and explore the implications of healthcare in the modern world. Lack of informed consent, overruling patient’s wishes, and poor attention to end-of-life wishes are the main points that will be discussed in more depth.
Informed Consent
The “Power” story explains the critical medical situation and the violation of autonomy, which plays a massive role in this issue. An intern faces a scenario when one of the patients needs urgent medical attention. The condition is severe; experts should work quickly to save the life. However, even though the intern tries to help, he forgets about informed consent (Huyler, 1999).
The desires of the patients stay neglected, and this problem may cause more ethical issues in the future. Individuals should have a right to make decisions regarding their medical care, and the idea of informed consent appeared. The consent forms usually obligate healthcare professionals to provide patients with information regarding their conditions, treatment options, and potential risks or benefits (Morales-Valdivia et al., 2023). Patients may feel disempowered and confused in the provided treatment plans without this procedure.
In Huyler’s story, the intern’s intentions are positive, but without the signed consent form, the violation of autonomy appeared, and the level of trust between the patient and the expired decreased. Mr. Simmons did not have a chance to decide on his own body and health. In contemporary medicine, informed consent is a crucial part of the treatment of patients’ care. It is a legal requirement and a critical aspect of individuals’ autonomy. Healthcare workers should ensure that all patients are fully informed about their medical conditions and provide a cure plan so that they can make different choices.
Overruling Patient’s Wishes
Doctors might be persuasive, and this factor is not always appropriate in the industry. In the “Power” story, Mr. Simmons strongly desires to go home despite his serious diagnosis (Huyler, 1999). However, the physician decided to go against the will and keep the patient in the hospital. People always have a right to refuse treatment and do whatever they want, which is clearly shown in the story. The ethical issue of paternalism is raised in this case as the expert tried to influence the patient’s interest and ensure their desires were wrong.
While paternalism can be well-structured and influential, it can also lead to a violation of autonomy. The doctor’s actions in the story show a lack of respect for Mr. Simmons’s decision-making. Therefore, this problem can cause issues in communication as the patient might avoid sharing essential details about the body’s condition. In the modern world, patient-centered care can boost the effective development of relationships between healthcare providers and those who need help. Collaborative choices make the healthcare industry more ethical and progressive.
End-of-life Wishes
The story unfolds that Mr. Simmons had previously expressed his desire to “do not resuscitate” (DNR). This request means the patient does not want medical professionals to help him when the heart activity or breathing stops. However, Huyler (1999) showed that experts ignored this factor and initiated resuscitation efforts. End-of-life care and advancement are crucial in understanding patient autonomy. In some cases, individuals in a critical medical condition might be unable to make decisions and communicate properly. Therefore, they should stay aware of all possible outcomes before serious operations and make relevant choices beforehand. Workers’ respect is essential during uneasy times, and some problems can be solved by evaluating end-of-life wishes.
In addition to the ethical problem, the principle of non-maleficence also was not followed. The duty to not harm is one of the main aspects of the healthcare system as graduating medical students give the nomadic Hippocrates to protect the lives of every human being. Ignoring people’s directives and proceeding with individual intentions can result in more harm and unnecessary physical or psychological suffering. Consequently, the modern healthcare system encourages all patients to make end-of-life wishes for unpredictable situations to ensure that all ethical aspects are met and every party stays satisfied.
Conclusion
In “Power” by Frank Hayler, the violation of individual autonomy is seen because of poor consent information and overruling patients’ wishes with ignorance of desires. This story also provokes a critical analysis of the challenges faced by medical experts and communication with different parties. Physicians and their colleagues should remember that patients must be able to make their own choices and be informed about any untypical choices that might affect the treatment plan. Healthcare professionals will continue facing ethical issues that might influence other people’s autonomy, and it is essential to pay attention to modern education plans to ensure that young experts do not violate human rights.
References
Huyler, F. (1999). Power. University of California Press.
Morales-Valdivia, E., Camacho-Bejarano, R., & Brady, A. M. (2023). Evaluation of consent forms for clinical practice in Spanish public hospitals. Journal of Healthcare Quality Research, 38(2), 84-92. Web.
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