Identify how 2 or more Ethical Principles are conflicted in this ethical dilemma.
Scholarly Ethics Paper (Nursing)
“Just because we can, does not always mean we should.” In today’s healthcare environment advances in technology and medical knowledge allow us to do things that were previously unthinkable. While some advances are clearly in everyone’s best interest others are less clear. The intent of this paper is for students to become familiar with ethical issues, conflicts, and ethical dilemmas. This allows students to explore one of the “grey” areas of medical advancement. Health care professionals such as nurses who have prolonged contact with patients often come across challenging ethical and legal issues, especially in times of limited resources. In light of these situations, nurses continue to provide safe, ethical, and quality patient centered care. After researching your topic, you will formulate a position and then proceed to support your position from the relevant literature. Remember it is important you support your stated position with the relevant literature.
In the ethical dilemma paper, students will describe an ethical situation and analyze the situation using ethical principles and theories. The paper is to be written individually using American Psychological Association (APA) format.
Select ONE of the topics below for your Ethical Dilemma Paper. Be sure to choose a topic that you have a strong interest or a strong personal belief.
Read widely about your topic to familiarize yourself with the different perspectives that exist about your topic
Research a case scenario, which you will be describing in your essay including the reference and analyze the situation.
Next, decide on a position that you will take regarding the identified issue.
Formulate a clear and concise thesis. The aim of your paper is to support your position through ethical reasoning
Paper Overview: a. Decide on a position that you will take regarding the identified issue.
State if you personally agree or disagree with the practice identified based on a reflection of your personal values.
Introduction – Paragraph that engages the reader’s attention, identifies your thesis statement, and gives a brief overview of your essay and case scenario
Identify how 2 different Ethical theories(Deontological Theories or Teleological Theories)
would view the ethical dilemma and choose one theory that includes your justification. (refer to page 3 and 4 for details)
Identify how 2 or more Ethical Principles are conflicted in this ethical dilemma. (refer page 3 and 4 for details)
Choose one ethical theory as well as ethical principle to justify your argument.
Identify relevant nursing standards or codes (CNO)
Identify legal considerations (RHPA, Nursing Act, Criminal Code, Human Rights, etc.)
Conclusion – Paragraph that provides a summary of the most salient points.
Make sure that you use a MINIMUM of four articles that are NOT part of the required course readings
Tips:
Be creative. Be sure to clarify about your agreement and disagreement with the practice identified. Your position should be through the utilization of relevant ethical theories, principles nursing standards and codes and current relevant research to formulate your argument, this must include the applicable/appropriate legislation). Make sure that your paper contains a reflection on what personal values you have in relation to the issue. A good argument always presents both sides but justifies why one side is more compelling than the other.
Additional tips:
Background information and significance of the topic chosen should be included
Well-focused essay showing your understanding on the topic, clear, readable, good flow with correct grammar and spelling.
Strong argument and avoid repeated ideas and information
Discuss the implications of this topic to the nursing practice.
Conclusion; summarizes your ideas/argument/stand on the topic
By the end of your paper, you will have a better understanding of ethical situations and how these issues can affect your nursing practice
Topics: (pick only ONE topic to discuss)
Euthanasia
Negligence.
Drug regulation in Canada and the implications for nurses.
Nurses safety (consider AIDS and HIV positive clients, multi drug resistant TB and the SARs crisis).
Advance directives, living will, and proxy directive.
Organ donation.
Stem Cell Research.
Voluntary and involuntary commitment to a mental health facility and what this means regarding client rights and the nursing role.
Advocacy.
Client’s rights
End of life care e.g. palliative care
Assisted suicide.
Patient abuse
Pro-choice vs pro-life
Freedom vs nurse control
Telling the truth vs deception
Distribution of resources and access to care
Empirical knowledge vs personal beliefs
Legalization of marijuana in Canada
Medical Assistance In Dying (M.A.I.D.)
Safe Drug Injection Site
Resources
Minimum of 4 scholarly resources as references not including textbooks
Refer to Publication Manual of the APA 6th edition for paper format
Refer to ethical guidelines from College of Nurses of Ontario and Canadian Nurses’ Connotation
Retrieved from nursing journals or any journals from the library
Retrieved from nursing journals or any journals from the library
Other scholarly articles may be utilized
Two theories are: Explain both theories based on scenario but choose just one theory to support
Deontological Theories
Don’t care about outcomes, all its care is doing good to my patient; if an act or behaviour is right, it is always right on the basis of their rightness making characteristics such as fidelity to promises, truthfulness, and justice regardless of the outcome
Teleological Theories
Looking at the outcomes, not looking at right or wrong
views a good act as one that brings the greatest good and the least harm for the greatest number of people.
The best-known theory that considers ends, outcomes, and consequences (immediate and long term) of decisions
Often used in making decisions about the funding and delivery of health care
Assess moral rightness of actions based on how much happiness they might produce.
Focuses on issues of fairness
