NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles

Applying Ethical Principles

Student Name

Capella University

Nurs FPX4000

Professor Name

Submission Date

Introduction

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 3 is about applying ethical principles to a real healthcare dilemma. The common problem with ethical issues is their inconsistency when one or more ethical values collide with each other or are inconsistent in any healthcare decision-making scenario. Conflicts between the self-government of the patients over their treatment and the obligation of the carers and the relatives to behave in the best interests of the patients may be difficult to reconcile. It should not only focus on interpersonal communication and mass communication, but also on using ethically ordered systems in order to ensure humane and principled solutions. In the current evaluation, we delve into the possibility of ethical principles, communication technology, and ethical decision-making models to resolve a healthcare sophisticated problem.

Overview of the Case Study

Timothy Collins is a 16-year-old boy with an aggressive kind of leukemia, and a giant ethical-moral dilemma is depicted (Capella University, 2024). He receives chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants over a two-year period, but becomes tired and does not want to continue treatment further, to proceed to hospice. He would prefer to die at home, and the remaining days be spent with his family without worrying that he will be admitted into the hospital. His parents, who cannot agree with the choice of their child, however, do not give up and are willing to resume treatment, and perhaps, to do it in another country. This lands the oncologist, Dr. Angela Foster Timothy, in a dilemma as she attempts to satisfy Timothy in her attempts to be independent and cheer the depressed parents of the young child.

The case involves an ethical dilemma of the general concern of the autonomous nature of the mature minor and the concern about the best interest of the son by the parent (Varkey, 2021). The analysis below is supported by the results of peer-reviewed journal articles that provide a decent impression of the ethics in the workplace. To refer to a specific example, research on the mature minor doctrine indicates that the legislation gives adolescents who possess adequate knowledge the ability to make reasonable decisions regarding medical care (Weithorn, 2020).

This involves the right to choose whether to undergo a treatment regime or not. Such an attitude is aligned with Timothy, who wants to discontinue further active chemotherapy and transition to hospice. Conversely, family-integrated care literature concentrates on the roles of families in decision-making and ethical considerations to make when the insight of a family diverges from that of the patient (Lin et al., 2021). This corresponds to what the parents wanted to do with all the treatment options available to them in order to make their son survive.

The selected findings are relevant because they aid the analysis in addressing and discussing the three major ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and the familial approach towards this problem. The choice of hospice care is a self-determination case and a desire to have quality time in the case of Timothy. His parents are not cruel; when they seek other treatment, they desire what they think is best in the eyes of their son. It is not an easy task to balance such types of usually conflicting and competing values and goals, and it is the role of the healthcare provider (such as Dr. Foster) to empower the recipients or the patient and, at the same time, to re-prioritize to address the needs of the parents, where they believe their son is losing his agency. It puts them in high regard when they create their care plan by enabling ethical issues to be considered not just by the patient but also by the family.

Effectiveness of Communication Approaches in the Case Study

Ethics are a major concern in the case of Timothy, which is closely connected with the communicative approach that Dr. Foster needs to establish with the young patient and his parents. Timothy must realize that his opinion counts, and as such, he is to experience the respect in his handling of him; he knows his age and his potential. Nevertheless, parents should be provided with clear and understandable communication of the medical and ethical implications of their actions as well (Noorulhuda et al., 2023). One of them is facilitating positive family meetings, whereby Timothy and the parents can listen and speak up. As a mediator, Dr. Foster will be able to build rapport that will later help the family deal with this challenging situation without overlooking the feelings and ethics of each member of the family.

Evidence-based explanations can provide views on the alternatives to the situation and assist in making realistic decisions concerning the situation. In such a way, Foster can clarify to all the parties concerned what to expect in terms of probabilities of positive outcomes and adverse side effects of the experimental therapy. The family can be assisted in overcoming their feelings and making a choice by counsel or the ethics committee at an institution (American Medical Association, 2022).

The bereavement and optimism of the parents must be considered with sensitivity, as they are the symptoms of the actual disposition emerging in the case of their son’s situation. Just as Foster has to realize that their love and neediness put them in a precarious position, he must also make sure that they remain true to the wishes of Timothy. An agreement, and a result that is acceptable not only in the principles founded on ethical consideration but also on the values of the family.

Preferred and Avoided Approaches

Dr. Foster is to apply the principle of advocacy and collaboration, considering the ability and preferences of Timothy, the beliefs of the parent, and professional knowledge. This is a way he can honor the voice of the child, Timothy, and at the same time be able to satisfy the emotional needs of his parents. Trying to avoid paternalistic and authoritarian-oriented approaches might lean toward decision-making without considering what Timothy wants or what value system Davis is guided by, which would ruin the confidence and increase tension (Yao and Hao, 2023). Nevertheless, by encouraging turnover in the conversation and immersing all the sides of a case in the discussion, it becomes possible to obtain an ethical and emotionally healthy resolution.

Ethical Decision-Making Model

In providing the solution to such dilemmas as an ethical issue between Timothy and his right to autonomy and the desires of his parents towards Timothy, the ethical decision-making model that will be applicable in this instance is the ethical decision-making model. The initial one is moral awareness that implies awareness of a conflict, and the formation of an appreciation of the conflict (Rahmani et al., 2022).

The appropriate person to foster here is the client representative because he makes sure that he hears both Timothy and his parents, as Timothy desires to have a good life, and the parents desire Lazarus to be subjected to experimental treatments. The moral judgment is a good, holistic evaluation of the possible effects of each of the possible choices. These involve the costliness of the experimental treatment, the advantages of hospice care, and the right of the patient to make the decision on his behalf, the right of Timothy. The final phase is ethical action, whereby it is to determine a resolution that is ethical yet resolves all the problems.

Dr. Foster might recommend hospice in this case since the patient desires to have a better quality of life or to have a better quality of remaining life. Meanwhile, when the prediction is made by the parents, Dr. Foster can tell that such a ruling does not rule out the possibility of a second review of the experimental treatment if there are any new medical findings. By so doing, relative justice is achieved as we consider the liberty of the patient in making judgments regarding his treatment. In theory, it is also sensitive and attentive to the emotional and psychological fears of parents who appear to have optimism and realistic expectations, as well as the desires of the patient. One can be honest with all the involved, and that is what Dr. Foster must do so that everyone concerned feels someone to whom they can speak, which is possible to do in the case of Timothy, not only with the parents of the patient, but with Timothy himself (Haaksman et al., 2024).

Consequences of Effective vs. Ineffective Approaches

The integrated shared decision-making model and collaboration and ethical decision-making focus on equity, inclusiveness, and help all sides involved in the decision feel valued and respected (National Library of Medicine, 2021). The activity encourages self-determination in Timothy, as well as fulfills the parents’ emotions, encourages free communication, which promotes building trust and relationships among the care team. The latter methodology of lowering the potential emerging conflicts enhances the interpersonal harmony and a resolution through consensus by taking equity and free communication into consideration.

Conversely, a dictatorial way of decision-making or disregard for the desires of Timothy could be tragic. This can cause tensions, mistrust, and disappointment among the stakeholders, thereby destroying the patient-physician relationship. It may also lead to unresolvable moral and emotional dilemmas, which undermine warm and quality care. Poor decision-making procedure may lead to destruction of trust and co-operative spirit, without which it could not have been possible to obtain a satisfying solution for all the concerned parties.

Balancing Ethical Principles in Timothy’s Case

Among the ethical issues is the dilemma that is established in the case with Timothy, as it is necessary to consider autonomy or the common good, the care, and attention provided to Timothy by his parents (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). Foster might be loyal to this value and, at the same time, demand the reality that Timothy might get the desire to abandon the aggressive treatments and visit hospice so that he could have the opportunity to live as long as it is possible with the disease. But as far as decision-making is concerned, the principle of beneficence will demand that I make a decision in the best interest of Timothy, and this will involve reference to the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of Timothy. As Dr. Foster explains to Timothy that he talks to him, and accepts his decision, one is sure that he is doing so with the highest level of respect, at the most terrible hour of his life.

The principle of non-maleficence can be used in order to address the needs of not only the parents and children but also to take into account the peculiarities of the current case. On this, as the compels a subject to unnatural or unwarrantedly obtrusive treatment, they should not be causing harm to the picture. Through this, she could come up with a formula through which Timothy could begin hospice care, and at the same time leave the door open to the experimental treatment in the event that everyone (Timothy and his parents) changed their minds.

This is also an attempt to create a fair solution since his rights will be well taken into consideration, but the expectations of his parents will also be addressed. It is this disconnection that opens the necessity of organizing family meetings coached by the palliative care team, who may be present in the meetings, so that everyone can listen to the meetings and have a shared sentiment and purpose to learn (Ndiok et al., 2020). The practice is also applicable so as to avoid situations when the actions of adjudicating the cases result in any unjust decision being made, owing to the ethics as the primary dictum that the profession entails.

Ethical Justification for Proposed Solution

The plan of action discovered has at least one advantage; when the ethical considerations are taken into consideration, it will help make the decision that will decide whether Timothy will live or not. It also muses on a response to the feelings of parents, too, and pays hearty attention to their response to it. Autonomy is just an expression of the maturity of the subject and respect for the right to make decisions and, thus, the right to a decent quality of life. Timothy is lucky to have an opportunity to make a considered choice concerning his care (Lehman, 2023).

When an organization provides a care plan that includes the elimination of unnecessary physical pain, the principle of beneficence will be achieved. Besides, the non-maleficence principle means that one will not be harmed by some excessive form of treatment. Actually, hospice care with the possibility of reversion to vigorous treatments presupposes hope and choice of easy dying, which seems to be just, as it takes not only into consideration the interests of all the participants of the process but also considers them as well.

Conclusion

The question of Timothy needs to balance the principle of autonomy, benevolence, and nonmaleficence so as to generate a solution that is just and humane. It will be consistent with the maturity level of Timothy and his desire to decide in formulating the action plan; it will address the emotional needs of Timothy’s parents. It, too, keeps an open line of communication; it is an option that can be taken, but one that has a chance, with a quality of life as its first consideration. The following practice is an ethical, professional, and human practice since the individuals involved are significant during this sensitive period in their lives.

For the 4th (next) assessment of NHS-4000 visit: Nurs FPX 4000 Assessment 4