Discussion on Ethical Dilemma

Questions: Case Scenario: A 6-year-old develops a high fever accompanied by violent vomiting and convulsions while at school. The child is rushed to a nearby hospital. The attending physician makes a diagnosis of meningitis and requests permission to initiate treatment from the parents. The childs parents are divorced. The mother, who is not the biological parent of the child, has primary custody. She is a Christian Scientist who insists that no medical treatment be offered for religious reasons. The biological father, who resides in another state, is also contacted. He insists that treatment be given and seeks independent consultation from another physician. Assignment: In a formal, written paper of 800-1,200 words, answer the following questions: 1.What is the ethical dilemma here? 2.Describe the decision-making model you selected from your readings. 3.How would you resolve this dilemma using the model? 4.Include, at the end of your paper, a 200-word dialog in which you explain your decision to the family. (Remember to use language that the family would understand). Answers: 1. Ethical Dilemma is considered a complex situation where an individual faces a mental conflict and moral imperatives to make a decision. In Nursing sector, facing an ethical dilemma is a very predominant issue (Beach, 2014) . One of the major ethical dilemma includes patient freedom versus nurse control, reproductive rights, honesty versus information, other minor dilemma, different beliefs, resource management, etc. This case study is based on an ethical dilemma facing in the process of treatment of a six year old child. The main aim of this study is to resolve the particular dilemma using a proper decision making model in order to start the treatment of the child. The case is for a Six year old child developing high fever with violent vomiting and convulsions while she was in school. After this event, the child was immediately admitted to a nearby hospital. The physician diagnosed her with meningitis and requested for the permission to start the treatment. Her biological parents are divorced. Her mother is, who is not the biological parent, has the primary custody of the child. She is a Christian Scientist and insists on the not applying medical interventions for religious causes. The biological father, who lives in another state also contacted the physician and insists on applying medical interventions. In medical interventions, ethical dilemma is caused due to many reasons. One of the major reasons behind ethical dilemma is a contradiction of a doctors duty. If the doctor is confused between what is said to him and what he needs to do, then there is a conflict in terms of doctors mindset (Beach, 2014). As pet certain protocols for doctors such as physicians, that he must treat the patient. But in this particular case, the mother of the child is refusing for any medical interventions. On the other hand the biological father of the child is insisting for applying medical interventions. The professional codes of medical professionals and ethics suggest that before starting medical interventions for a particular patient, it is compulsory to ask for the permission from the patients guardian or parents. In this scenario the mother of the child is restrained from giving permission. As a result, the doctor is not able to start the primary necessary interventions to be carried out. In addit ion to this, he cannot seek for the consent to begin his work. 2. To overcome this dilemma, the physician can apply the DECIDE model for the decision making help (Beach, 2014). The Decide model is applicable in this scenario as it can be used in health issues. D- Define or identify the problem or issue. E-Estabhment of the criteria and measures which are needed to implement. C-Consideration of all the possible choices. I- Identification of the best option for this particular case scenario. D-Development of the action plan which is selected for execution. E- Evaluation and Monitoring of the solution with respect to the mentioned health issue. 3. In this particular case, the mother of the child is not allowing the doctor to take medical interventions. As we know, the child is suffering from meningitis and symptoms such as high fever, vomiting and convulsions (Barry Edgman-Levitan, 2012). As per the physician, the child is in immediate need of medical intervention. To overcome this situation, only two, one way is to treat the child or the other way is to allow the child to suffer. In these particular scenarios, DECIDE model can be applied to resolve the ethical issue (Barry Edgman-Levitan, 2012). The most important thing to understand the mental thinking and the condition of the mother of the child. As, the child is need of medical intervention, the mother of the child should be educated with scientific backgrounds. She should be made aware of the modern development of scientific technologies. The most important thing is to demolish her superstitious beliefs and convince her. To make feel that her child needs medical help on an emergency basis (Baghbanian, 2012). Moreover, the doctor should consult his father, in order to convince her mother. As a doctor, the primary goal of the physician is to treat a patient for betterment. In this scenario, if the physician does not treat the child, the condition can become worse and out of control. So, the physician can get permission from his biological father and start the treatment procedure on an emergency basis. If any legal prospect arises, the physician can show the humanitarian grounds and consent of his father through voicemail or email which will provide a legal importance. (Barry Edgman-Levitan, 2012) 4. Following is provided the conversational dialogue between the physician and the childs mother is given below: Physician: The child is suffering from meningitis and she needs immediate medical interventions. As a protocol, you have to provide us the permission! Mother: she does not need any medical intervention. Lord is her shepared. He will take care. Intervention: this is 21st century madam, mane reched to the moon, earth is round, think from a scientific prospect, If u don not response, her life will be in danger! Physiscian: I have talked with the father of the child, he is asking for medical intervention, with scientific point of view, you should discard these supersticious and agree to save the life of the child. All over the world, people are taking to consume medical interventions and they are getting well. So you should think broadly. Mother: I am a strong beneiver of Christian scientist. I prefer this otion more. Physician: There is no scientific valu of such practices, you should think with ur mind, how can such practices be fruitful, if so, then people would never opt for medical interventions. Think broadly, do not narrow down your thinking. Evry minute loss is putting your chailds life in danger. Please provide me the permission. Mother: Okay, I am giving you the permission, but my child should get well. Physician: She will, thank you for your permission, I will try my level best. References Baghbanian, A., Hughes, I., Kebriaei, A., Khavarpour, F. A. (2012). Adaptive decision-making: how Australian healthcare managers decide.Australian Health Review,36(1), 49-56. Barry, M. J., Edgman-Levitan, S. (2012). Shared decision makingthe pinnacle of patient-centered care.New England Journal of Medicine,366(9), 780-781. Beach, L. R. (2014).Decision making in the workplace: A unified perspective. Psychology Press.