Ethical Decision-Making

Case Study # 99589

Ethics
Medical and Health > Drugs
Medical and Health > Nursing

A case study analyzing the ethical dilemmas involved in medication errors in a hospital.

1,299 words () | 4 sources | APA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper presents a case study of a nurse who notices that a patient has been given an incorrect dosage of a drug by her team leader. The paper describes the values, ethical principles and legal rules that are involved in this case. It then goes on to discuss the options and alternatives that this nurse has and her possible course of action. The paper suggests that if the hospital has clear guidelines, many ethical dilemmas can be avoided.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Ethical Situation: A Dilemma
Values
Reactions
Ethical Principles
Legal Rules
Options and Alternatives
Course of Action
Action Plan
Evaluation

From the Paper:

"The incident must be reported. The first reason for this is that the nurse must "always use the patient's perspective as a starting point" (CNO, 2004, p. 5). The wellbeing of the patient is always to be the top priority for any nurse, over all other considerations. Secondly, the nurse is morally accountable, and this does not mean making what other individuals would believe to be the right decision. Instead, "it does mean being able to defend and justify whatever decision one makes" (Yeo & Moorhouse, 1996, p. 31). There is a good reason for reporting the incident, which demonstrates the importance of accountability. Legal rules and guidelines focus on ensuring competency, quality, and safety to patients. The nurse, as a professional, must make decisions and act on those decisions which are concerned with independent practice and collaboration (Keatings & Smith, 2000)."

Sample of Sources Used:

College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) (2004). Practice standard: Ethics. Toronto: CNO.
Keatings, M. & Smith, O. (2000). Ethical & legal issues in Canadian nursing. Toronto: Saunders.
Smetzer, J. (198). Beyond blaming individuals. Nursing98, 28, 48-51.
Yeo, M. & Moorhouse, A. (1996). Concepts and cases in nursing ethics. Peterborough: Broadview Press.