Using an Ethical Decision-Making Model to Solve an Ethical Dilemma

Resolving an ethical dilemma

9 Running head : RESOLVING AN ETHICAL DILEMMA Resolving an Ethical Dilemma in a Healthcare Context

Author (s

Institutional Affiliation

Resolving an Ethical Dilemma in a Healthcare Context

The balance between right and wrong is complex to and is relative to the time , place , religion , and culture of the context of situations as well as of the protagonists (Brown , Patankar , Treadwell , 2005 theless , basic invariant principle exist such as You must not murder (Exodus 20 :13 ) In this particular example , the ethical dilemma takes place

in the context of a rehabilitation center . Mrs Smith is a patient who is being treated for a stroke and a broken hip As the therapy is being applied for her condition , she feels that doctors , nurses , and her family should let her die because the rehabilitation process is very painful to her . However , letting someone die is against the Hypocratic Oath that doctors have sworn to uphold Additionally , physician-assisted suicide is not a legal option in our society . Finally , her family understandably opposes her feelings since they want the best for her . Besides , the doctors have told them that she will be fine . In to resolve the moral dilemma , the basic moral model of decision-making will be applied in this case . This model was developed by Thiroux (1977 ) and Halloran (1982 ) further refined it A moral dilemma model specific to healthcare was designed by Uustal which is appropriate to the presented scenario (Uustal , 1995

Method

The Model of Moral Dilemma in Healthcare (See Fig . 1

Subjects or Participants

1 . Healthcare staff : doctors , nurses

2 . Family : adult children and adult grandchildren

3 . Subject : Jody Smith , a former nurse , retired , lives alone , limited income

4 . Potential player : social worker

Procedure

Carefully summarize each step in the execution of solving the dilemma Explain the choices made at each step , decide which follow-up actions are needed , and indicate whether or not an ethic of care was considered in the decision-making

Strategy

Massage the dilemma , outline the options , resolve the dilemma , act by applying the chosen option , look back , evaluate the entire process including how each step as implemented

Discussion

The purpose of this section is to use the model of ethical dilemma to solve the situation with Mrs . Smith . The first step is to identify each participant and evaluate their contribution in the situation (massage the dilemma

The patient and her family

The main issues with Jody Smith are that she is older , retired , living alone in a remote area with a limited income . She has adult children and grandchildren . She also used to be a nurse . First , her former occupation implies that she has a very good knowledge of care giving issues . Second , she is retired , implying that she may not have any hobbies or stimulating activities . Third , she lives alone in a remote area and has adult children and grandchildren , implying that she has limited contacts with her children and /or other persons . Fourth , she has a limited income , which may be...