Abstract This paper discusses the concept of beneficence in modern nursing. The paper presents a background and history of the nursing profession. Beneficence in the general context of modern nursing is examined. The paper also explores beneficence as a core principle of modern nursing ethics.
From the Paper "Perhaps no single concept is more fundamental to the nursing profession (and to the entire field of medicine) than beneficence. Indeed, even the central tenet of medicine, primum non nocere ("do no harm") is itself a derivation of the much larger and comprehensive ethical principle of beneficence (Abrams & Buckner, 1983). Florence Nightingale is widely considered to be the mother of modern nursing, despite the fact that her most important contributions predated even the most basic modern medical principle of asepsis and the germ theory of disease that form the foundation of all modern medical training and nursing science. As a matter of fact, it was precisely her concern with the well-being and human dignity of her patients that dramatically lowered the mortality rate of soldiers injured in the American Civil War as compared to the Crimean War during approximately the same chronological period (Starr, 1984)."
Abstract This paper examines how nurses must sometimes to renounce their personal morality for a professional code of ethics, much as patients temporarily renounce control over their bodies for treatment renunciations. It looks at how although the principles of beneficence may be discomforting at times, they are necessary in the health care profession and how they have existed long before managed care or even modern hospitalization.
From the Paper "Likewise, the patient has no right to deplore the nurse's credentials, even though the patient may refuse treatment, because the nurse may be overweight and not, in her personal life, not pursue the practice of her own health to the optimal degree, in the patient's estimation. So long as the nurses' lifestyle decisions do not affect his or her credentials as a health care professional nor his or her ability to treat patients (as they would if the nurse was abusing alcohol on the job, or selling prescription drugs intended for patient treatment) the principle of beneficence, to do no personal harm to one another, exists as an obligation to both nurses and patients within the health care system of 2004."
Abstract This paper reviews the writer's personal philosophy of care and individual ethics in a case scenario of a patient (referred to as Mr. Smith) with advanced Alzheimer's and dementia. The writer discusses how the family often appeared indifferent and unconcerned with their father's condition especially at his untimely demise, which proved difficult for the nursing staff as they cared profoundly for the patient. The writer explores the specific ethical principles involved, including autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence and links the clinical situation to a specific theory of grief, loss and bereavement. The writer suggests alternative actions which could have led to a more satisfying and ethical outcome in the case of Mr. Smith, his family and the nurses concerned.
Outline:
Introduction
My Philosophy of Care in my Nursing Practice
Autonomy, Justice, Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
Related Theory of Grief, Loss, and Bereavement
Suggested Alternative Solutions
Conclusion
From the Paper "Ethics in healthcare is fundamental in the day-to-day care provided to patients' particularly in nursing and certainly with end of life issues. Essentially, the code of ethics for registered nurses is a declaration of commitment to those we serve, it is a guideline that sets out behaviors expected of us, and it advocates for quality care and serves as a self-reflection tool (Canadian Nurses Association, 1998). The codes of ethics and the standards of care made available by our governing body ensure that the best nursing practices will be provided to our patients (Aiken, 2005). Part of our nursing practice is to assist in life-threatening situations. Coping with death is challenging for nurses since the ability to cope with one's own grief or beliefs highly depends on the relationship of the healthcare provider to the patient, to their families and to their own experiences with death."
Abstract The paper discusses five case studies that involve professional ethics. The paper discusses the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibilities, integrity, justice and respect for people's rights and dignity and explains how they are applied to these specific situations.
Outline:
Case 1. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
Case 2. Fidelity and Responsibilities
Case 3. Integrity
Case 4. Justice
Case 5. Respect for People's Rights and Dignity
From the Paper "In the advent of advances in medical technology, there have been significant changes in how health care is being delivered. Long gone were the days when the patient is left in the dark of his medical condition while his health care team pry and probe his mind and body, providing him with medications that could potentially alter the quality of life. Nowadays, patients are empowered with easy access to information that was once only extracted from health care professionals. Patients are given the power to be more involved in the management of their conditions. Therefore, health care professionals must be aware and give consideration to what is good or harmful to the patient, as well as what is sound to the patient and his family."
This paper examines four principles which need to be considered by health care professionals in order to determine the ethical value of their decisions.
Abstract This paper explains four principles which health care practitioners must consider when faced with a dilemma. They are A) autonomy, B) beneficiency, C) non-maleficence, and 4) justice. The author defines autonomy as the independence to determine one's own direction, conditioned only by the need to respect others? individual liberties. Beneficence is the righteous philosophy of doing good, while non-maleficence adds the condition that no harm should be done. Justice, the quality which creates the most controversy, may be defined as fair, just, equitable, and unbiased decision making.
Introduction
Morality And Ethics: What are they and Why do they Matter?
All You Need to Know about Ethics Approaches and Theories
Means, Ends, Principles and Virtues
A Six-Step Process of Ethical Decision Making for You to Follow
Surviving Professional Life Ethically
Ethical Dimensions of the Professional ?Patient Relationship
Special Challenges: "Difficult Patients" and Patients in Suicidal Crisis
Bibliography
From the Paper "Case studies become much more than words on a page when health care professionals see these names as people, who hurt, are afraid, and look to you, a medical professional for comfort. The actions the medical practitioner take next will help define their moral values. As Dr. Purtilo states on page 7, ?The goal of morality is to protect a high quality of life for an individual or for a community as a whole.? When one enters training to become a health care professional, the next stop should be to prepare themselves to deal with three types of morality: their own, their society?s, and that of society as a whole. These are pretty heavy topics for young people of 18 or 20 to ponder, but ponder them they must. If knowledge is the foundation of trust, morality must be its supporters. All medical professionals will encounter situations which should cause them to "search their souls" for the best answers. The case studies which Dr. Purtilo presents throughout this book are actually a means to play the "what if" game. "What if it were my father/husband/brother/son" What would I do?? Dr. Purtilo closes this first chapter by saying that the formation of our morality and values is an on-going process. Each case will present slightly different variables and questions, therefore each day will be a type of check-up of our values and morality."
Abstract This paper examines how, in today's society, the demands of medicine are great and so is the tendency to allow medicine to become routine and to lose sight of the phenomenal value of humanity. It discusses how health care professionals must consider how they can sustain a commitment to patients that truly puts their interests above our own. It also describes why health care professionals should be exclusively concerned with doing as much good as possible and how they can realize this goal by studying medical ethics.
Outline
Introduction
Ethical Principles
Value of Life
Beneficence Nonmaleficence
Justice
Veracity
Fidelity
Confidentiality
Conclusion
From the Paper "In 1900, there were few options for the ill because there were few medications and minimal surgical techniques (Stanton, 2003). Many illnesses resulted in death. However, with modern technology, death is no longer the inevitable outcome of illness. Today, many choices of treatments, including simple antibiotic treatment and aggressive life-sustaining treatments, exist. As the end of life nears, there are a variety of choices, including futility, withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments, euthanasia, and physician-assisted suicide. Healthcare professionals are asked to participate in making these difficult choices on a daily basis."
Tags:beneficence, nonmaleficence, treatment, patients, life, death
Abstract This paper explains that traditional bioethics places its primary focus on respect for autonomy; but, on a broader perspective, traditional bioethics rejects extreme individualism and individual rights in fostering a healing environment. The author reviews the Ana Code, pointing out its statement of respecting persons as the fundamental ethical principle or value underlying nursing care: Respect for individual autonomy and self-determination and for individuals as interconnected members of the same human community. The paper relates that principle of beneficence simultaneously interplays with non-malfeasance in nursing care, coming out of preventing harm, removing harm or promoting good; but conflicts in values between nurse and patient do occur including financial reimbursement, approved services, laws covering the reporting of sexually transmitted diseases or abuse and protocols regarding the sources of orders or commands.
From the Paper "This current state does not mean that quality services and access have become incongruent with managed care, but that the goals of cost containment and survival values in the competitive environment in the health care market have tipped the balance and outweighed values, which put fundamental emphasis on respect or individuals and fair access to care for all who needed it.Those who hold the reins today even refer to managed care as "managed utilization" or "managed cost"."
Abstract This paper studies the ethical conflicts surrounding abortion. The paper begins with an overview of ethics concepts, including beneficence, justice and autonomy. After explaining each of these terms, the paper attempts to apply them to the question of abortion. The author begins with the pro-life position, detailing how these three principles relate to the unborn child. Next the author applies the same principles to the rights of the mother to make decisions regarding her own body. The author concludes that both the pro-life and pro-choice factions have compelling ethical arguments on their side.
Outline
Introduction
Ethics Principles
Ethics Principles and Promotion of the Pro-Life Position
Ethics Principles and the Promotion of the Pro-Choice Position
Analysis and Conclusion
From the Paper "The principle of beneficence certainly does not support abortion. The requirement for nonmaleficence is violated when a fetus is aborted, as harm is intentionally being inflicted on an innocent human being. Abortions do not in any way promote the values of goodness, kindness, and charity. And, although the mother may feel that she is benefiting from the abortion, she may well be inflicting physical and mental harm on herself. Likewise, the principle of justice is violated by abortion. When a mother conceives, she owes life to her baby. In aborting her fetus, a mother is not treating her baby in accordance with what is fair, due, or owed. Fairness would dictate that a mother give her baby a chance at life. She owes, and her baby is due, no less. She can always place the baby for adoption if she does not want it."
Abstract This paper reports the writer's observations about ethics as they relate to the nursing experience. The paper is written in narrative form and discusses the writer's ideas about autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence. The writer notes that she has come to understand that each nurse-patient situation is different and can often be complicated, and as such, cannot limit herself to one ethical theory when dealing with the ethical/moral dilemmas that sometimes arise in these situations.
Outline:
Introduction
Themes and application
Most meaningful themes
Significant learning
Conclusion
From the Paper "At the beginning of the course, I saw black and white and would be very close minded about ethics. The main thing I have learned is to incorporate new and deeper knowledge of ethical theories and principles with the analysis of an ethical issue. The key word in my learning is 'complexity'. I see that ethical issues are never simple. For example, the utilitarian idea of the greatest good for the greatest number (Beauchamp & Childress, 2001) sounds perfect but does not always work. My own favorite ethical theory is deontology because of its concern with others and with life. However, I learned I cannot limit myself to one view or I will never be able to deal with ethical dilemmas. Basically, I have learned that we need to have a complete understanding of all ethical theories and principle."
Abstract This paper claims that patients' autonomy can be meaningfully enhanced through physicians' beneficence. Drawing on the deliberative model and the concept of autonomy, the paper argues that a patient is more active and hence autonomous when the physician is also active.
Abstract This paper attempts to understand the difficulties faced by health care providers and administrators in today's medical climate and how they need handle the challenges in decision making, using proper moral and ethical guidelines. It examines how knowledge is the basis for effective decision making ,as well as the four principles that health care practitioners must consider when faced with a dilemma: autonomy, beneficence, non-malfeasance and justice.
Outline
Introduction
Morality and Ethics
Ethics Approaches and Theories
Means, Ends, Principles and Virtues
Section Two: Professional Roles
Surviving Professional Life Ethically
The Professional ? Patient Relationship
Special Challenges
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "Knowing what you believe, how strongly you believe, and what your moral convictions are will serve you well when you face an ethical question. Self-examination is a process that should be practiced until it becomes automatic. Analyzing incidences or decisions you have made in the past will help later on when you may be the one to whom everyone else is looking for direction or advice. This is especially relevant to a health services manager because there will be many times when you will be expected to give a "right" answer to employees, patients, or their families in a very limited amount of time. By practicing self-examination and even engaging in professional role-playing, one will become a better decision maker."
Abstract Discusses the ethical principles of health care leaders. Describes the moral principle of beneficence and considers concepts of death with dignity, patient rights, informed consent, and distributive justice. Discusses the moral, ethical, and medical decisions faced by physicians.
From the Paper "We are familiar with the idea in the Hippocratic Oath all graduating medical students swear to, that,. At the very least, doctors will do no harm. Yet, what is rarely discussed is another part of this oath: "I ..."
Abstract This paper examines how death has become more clinical and more involved with medical intervention and how, as such, it has been removed from our everyday lives. It discusses how medical professionals of every kind must deal with death and dying issues on a daily basis. It provides a literature review covering aspects of of euthanasia, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and living wills. The common themes identified in studies in end-of-life decisions are discussed and analyzed, and conclusions are reached.
Outline
Introduction
Abstract
Euthanasia
Ending a Patient's Life
Patient's Choice: Consent/Autonomy
Living Wills
Do Doctors Really Act Beneficently?
Conclusion
From the Paper "Do the patient's desires have any bearing on the outcome of the case? Can the patient be considered to have given informed consent in the matter of the administration of a lethal dose of a lethal drug? In the United Kingdom, all medical professionals are bound by very strict rules regarding informed consent. All patients are considered to be competent to provide consent unless they demonstrate otherwise. In all cases, the medical professional must ask themselves if the patient can understand the decisions being recommended and make a proper decision with the information which has been provided. It must also be understood that a patient who refuses treatment or makes an unexpected decision when full information has been given is not necessarily incompetent, but an unexpected decision may show the need for further explanation by the professional."
This paper is a dissertation proposal to investigate public opinion and to gain statistical evidence related to the impact of cost containment on the delivery of quality health care.
Abstract This paper explains that medicine is thought to be a profession that has lost its way, a system in which economics is now the bottom line governing treatment decisions and not the traditional value of beneficence. The author states that the research methodology will be a self-administered questionnaire to 50 recipients of health care and 50 health care providers to gather feedback relating to the effects of cost containment and opinions regarding the current system of health care spending. The paper relates that the research also will contain a survey of the health care practices in five countries, including the United States, Japan, Canada, Germany, and Britain.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Background
Defining the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Research Questions
Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis
Literature Review ? Health Care Cost Containment
Summary: Benefits of Cost Containment
Methodology and Procedure
Instrument
Data Collection
Subjects
Data Analysis
Assumptions
Limitations
Expectations
Appendix: Sample Survey Questionnaire
From the Paper "When done right, cost containment will actually improve the quality of health care. Scientific justification can be utilized to ensure that people needing treatments get them. Accessibility to quality care services for everyone will be broadened. Universal coverage will also ensure that insurance agencies don?t avoid providing insurance to individuals with higher needs or greater risks, and ensure that cost shifting and risk avoidance are minimized."
Tags: questionnaire, benefits, justification, accessibility, countries
Abstract This paper focuses on the period of unification of the Persian Empire accomplished under Darius, who ruled from 522 B.C. to 486 B.C. It examines the changes and advances that Darius achieved during this ruling period. The writer concludes that the period reflects the diversity of the empire and proclaims a single theme, a harmonious world order thanks to a benevolent and beneficent king.
From the Paper "The Achaemenid Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus, centered on southwest Iran and lower Mesopotamia. Cyrus enlarged the empire by seizing the kingdom of Lydia in 547 BC and gradually adsorbing Greek colonies in Ionia, in western Asia Minor. He called this the Achaemenid Empire, after his ancestor, Achaemenes. Under Darius I, it reached its greatest extent, stretching from the Aegean Sea to the Indus River, from Egypt to the modern Central Asian Republics. The empire was vast and its people diverse. The twenty-six different subject peoples of the land spoke different languages, worshiped different gods, lived in different environments and had widely differing social customs."
