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Week 6 – Show You Care
ETHC445N – Principles of Ethics
Professor Robinson
Due Date
, 2
Week 6 – Show You Care
Ethical Dilemma
Being in the healthcare profession, individuals have to deal with different ethical
dilemmas that can affect their plan of care. Patient, Benjamin H, arrives in the emergency
department complaining of migraine along with high grade fever. He states that he never takes
his prescribed medication for the migraine. But when the emergency department physician came
in to see Benjamin, he was not there anymore. When a patient comes in the emergency
department for an ear infection and they realize they have the same patient already admitted just
a few moments ago. When he gets to the pharmacy, they say that the medication was already
picked up. An investigation takes place and the hospital’s director finds out that there have been
2 patients using the same name. The Benjamin that came in for the migraine, whose real name is
Mike, is a fraud and stole that patient’s identity using his health insurance card. The previous
card that was being used by Mike has been voided, making it impossible for Mike to get the
medications he needs. Mike’s migraines get a lot worse and was forced to go back to the
emergency department where he admits that he was just in dire need because he couldn’t afford
it along with his son’s needs and he’s a single father. He actually got so worse that he needed a
vent, and yes he will still get treated but he does need to pay for the expenses of the treatment
according to the hospital. When he started to code, they did nothing. Now this is an ethical
dilemma.
Care Based and Rights Based Solution
The connection between normative ethical theory and the nature of morality is called to
be care based ethics. In this dilemma it is seen that the wellbeing of Mike is much more needed
to be attended to but in respect to Benjamin the issue of morality is now in place. Gallagher
Week 6 – Show You Care
ETHC445N – Principles of Ethics
Professor Robinson
Due Date
, 2
Week 6 – Show You Care
Ethical Dilemma
Being in the healthcare profession, individuals have to deal with different ethical
dilemmas that can affect their plan of care. Patient, Benjamin H, arrives in the emergency
department complaining of migraine along with high grade fever. He states that he never takes
his prescribed medication for the migraine. But when the emergency department physician came
in to see Benjamin, he was not there anymore. When a patient comes in the emergency
department for an ear infection and they realize they have the same patient already admitted just
a few moments ago. When he gets to the pharmacy, they say that the medication was already
picked up. An investigation takes place and the hospital’s director finds out that there have been
2 patients using the same name. The Benjamin that came in for the migraine, whose real name is
Mike, is a fraud and stole that patient’s identity using his health insurance card. The previous
card that was being used by Mike has been voided, making it impossible for Mike to get the
medications he needs. Mike’s migraines get a lot worse and was forced to go back to the
emergency department where he admits that he was just in dire need because he couldn’t afford
it along with his son’s needs and he’s a single father. He actually got so worse that he needed a
vent, and yes he will still get treated but he does need to pay for the expenses of the treatment
according to the hospital. When he started to code, they did nothing. Now this is an ethical
dilemma.
Care Based and Rights Based Solution
The connection between normative ethical theory and the nature of morality is called to
be care based ethics. In this dilemma it is seen that the wellbeing of Mike is much more needed
to be attended to but in respect to Benjamin the issue of morality is now in place. Gallagher
