HLT ¬305¬T¬ ETHICAL ¬DECISION ¬MAKING

Ethical Decision Making in Health Care Just as health care providers utilize scientific methods to investigate the_ causes of disease & develop plans to address the_ physical needs of patients, health care professionals apply similar methods to objectively assess ethical dilemmas & determine a reasonable solution. Ethical decisions are reasoned choices based on: · The_ dilemma itself · The_ principles in conflict · The_ people involved · The_ outcome of the_ proposed action · The_ ethical reasoning process selected When faced with an ethical dilemma, the_ following ethical questions must be answered: · Who should be involved in the_ decision-making process? · Who has the_ right to make the_ final decision? · What ought to be done to address the_ dilemma? · What harm or good will result from the_ decision? · Who will benefit? Decision-Making Models Decision-making models offer clearly defined steps for decision-making that are based upon objective assessments of the_ dilemma at h&. Models most commonly applied to health care include: Nash's 12 Questions for Moral Choices, Kidder's Ethical Checkpoints, & Uustal's Ethical Decision-Making Model. The_ following is a brief overview of each decision-making model. Nash's 12 Questions for Moral Choices: Laura Nash (1981) 1. Have you defined the_ problem accurately? 2. How would you define the_ problem if you stood on the_ othe_r side of the_ fence? 3. How did this situation occur in the_ first place? 4. To whom & what do you give your loyalties as a person & as a member of the_ (institution)? 5. What is your intention in making this decision? 6. How does this intention compare with the_ likely results? 7. Whom could your decision or action injure? 8. Can you engage the_ affected parties in a discussion of the_ problem before you make your decision? 9. Are you confident that your position will be as valid over a long period of time as it seems now? 10. Could you disclose without qualms your decision or action to your boss, your CEO, the_ board of directors, your family, or society as a whole? 11. What is the_ symbolic potential of your action if understood? If misunderstood? 12. Under what conditions would you allow exceptions to your st&? Kidder's Ethical Checkpoints - Rushworth Kidder (1995) 1. Recognize that the_re is a problem. 2. Determine the_ actor (Who is responsible for addressing the_ problem?) 3. Gathe_r the_ relevant facts 4. Test for right-versus-wrong issues (Does the_ decision violate moral codes?) 5. Test for right-versus-right values (What values are in conflict?) 6. Apply ethical st&ards & perspectives. 7. Look for a third way (Is compromise possible?) 8. Make the_ decision. Uustal's Decision-Making Model − Diann Uustal (1993) Step 1: Identify the_ problem. Step 2: State your values & ethical position related to the_ problem. Step 3: Generate alternatives. Step 4: Examine & prioritize alternatives.