A health care issue often becomes an ethical dilemma because:
A. A client’s legal rights coexist with a health professional’s obligation.
B. Decisions must be made quickly, often under stressful conditions.
C. Decisions must be made based on value systems.
D. The choices involved do not appear to be clearly right or wrong.
Correct Answer: D. The choices involved do not appear to be clearly right or wrong.
Advances in medicine, increasing economic stress, a rise of patient self-determination, and differing values between healthcare workers and patients are among the many factors contributing to the frequency and complexity of ethical issues in healthcare.
Option A: Nurses are required to administer prescribed medicine, but patients, at the same time, can refuse them. Patient autonomy can go against medical directives, despite clearly defined needs. Patients have a right to refuse all medical care. ANA highlights that it is important for nurses and nurse managers to understand patient backgrounds and individual circumstances to inform the patient of the medical necessity.
Option B: Nurses can also benefit by surrounding themselves with well-seasoned nurses as well as experienced nurse managers. They can rely on the guidance of nurse managers when it comes to situations they may not know how to address. Nurse managers can cultivate educational environments, in which they regularly discuss ethical issues with the nurses in their units. By having open dialogues about ethical issues, nurses can learn from the mistakes others have made and learn how to approach ethical issues and challenges.
Option C: Healthcare, which is science-based and results-driven, can impede religious or personal beliefs. Some religions restrict medical interventions and lifesaving techniques. Nurses focus on providing medical care to reduce suffering and to allow patients to concentrate on self-care. For patients or their families with strong religious or spiritual convictions, the focus may be on adhering to a strict set of guidelines.