Description
Response
Ethical Dilemma
Haahr et al. (2020) define ethical dilemma as a situation where a difficult choice or decision should be made between two contradicting courses of action which transgress the moral principle. In the present day, being a professional nurse is associated with various complexities due to the obligation to comply with different standards in healthcare, religious, cultural, and even political segments (Rainer et al., 2018). It is apparent that ethical concepts or principles like autonomy, fidelity, beneficence, and confidentiality are the essential definers of professional nurses’ clinical actions and behaviors (Haahr et al., 2020). In most cases, nurses play the role of a mediator between patients, the facility’s management, the health care system, and families. For this reason, nurses are more likely to encounter different ethical dilemmas in routine professional practice.
Despite being part of a democratic society, different ethical dilemmas often arise due to differences in how we interpret various ethical guidelines and standards. Modern nursing education emphasizes the importance of effective decision-making in addressing ethical issues in such dilemmas (Holm, 2022). Advanced practice nurses contribute to decision-making by utilizing various evidence-based principles from ethical theories and conceptual frameworks. Ethical principles usually guide nurses throughout their clinical practice. For example, nurses should always promote the privacy and confidentiality of their patients and avoid engaging in actions that may harm clients (Haahr et al., 2020).
A situation in which I was involved in an ethical dilemma involved a couple who came to our facility for prenatal care. The 22-year female patient was sixteen weeks pregnant. On assessment, it was found that her history of cardiac disease had worsened due to the pregnancy. The attending doctors were concerned that the pregnancy may deteriorate her cardiac condition and eventually lead to a life-threatening situation. After appropriate consideration, her doctor recommended pregnancy termination within three weeks. However, the patient was reluctant due to her belief that abortion is wrong and that God would heal her. The patient also wanted to understand more about the doctor’s proposal.
When dealing with ethical dilemmas, it is essential to understand that patients usually look upon caregivers concerning their health, decisions, and wellness. In this ethical dilemma, the medical necessity for the intervention or treatment contradicted the patient’s religious beliefs and personal morals. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Position Statement on Reproductive Health, patients have the right to autonomy and privacy (Baker, 2019). Patients should be allowed to make decisions relating to their health and well-being without intimidation or coercion. ANA also gives nurses the right to decide whether to participate in situations involving serious ethical concerns. However, if the patient’s life is affected, the nurse has an obligation to safeguard the patient’s safety by avoiding abandonment.
The ethical dilemma was solved by involving the facility’s ethical committee. The committee helped address all bioethical concerns by discussing with the patient her condition and how it may affect her safety or life. The committee encouraged the patient to talk with her close family members and, if possible, discuss the issue with their priest or chaplain. It was necessary to inform the patient to talk to their religious leaders because her beliefs against abortion resonated around spirituality.
