Ha405 Assignment Directions Kaplan University School Of Heal

Ha405 Assignment Directionskaplan University School Of Health Sciences

In this unit, you will discuss two healthcare issues facing healthcare administrators. In a 2-page summary, you will identify the bioethical and political issues and discuss how you would effectively and ethically handle the situations.

Scenario 1: You are the healthcare administrator of a nursing home. You are informed by your Admissions Director that a new memory-impaired resident has been admitted into your long-term care unit. The staff is concerned about the involvement of family with your resident. Family members from out-of-town arrived and expressed concern about your resident’s do not resuscitate (DNR) orders which were authorized by the Power of Attorney of another family member. A quarrel erupts in the nursing home with family members voicing their opinions loudly.

You arrive on the scene and are immediately told by the visiting family member, “Do you know who I am? I am a supervisor for the Department of Health and Human Services and will not hesitate to have your facility surveyed for noncompliance.†What do you do?

Scenario 2: You are the administrator of a for-profit healthcare clinic. The receptionist notifies you that a 15-year-old has arrived needing prenatal care and does not want her parents to know about her pregnancy. She is covered by her parent’s insurance and does not have enough money to privately pay for the visit.

Paper For Above instruction

The ethical and political dilemmas confronting healthcare administrators are complex and multifaceted, often requiring careful navigation to uphold legal, moral, and professional standards. In the scenarios presented, a nuanced understanding of bioethics and healthcare policy is essential to making decisions that are ethically sound, legally compliant, and respectful of patient rights and societal expectations.

Bioethical and Political Issues in Healthcare Administration

The first scenario involves a bioethical issue concerning patient autonomy, end-of-life decisions, and family involvement. The resident's DNR orders, authorized by a family member with Power of Attorney, present an ethical obligation for the administrator to respect the resident’s expressed wishes and legal documents. The family’s interference and accusatory stance introduce conflicts related to the ethical principles of respect for autonomy and beneficence, alongside potential legal liabilities. Politically, the administrator must also consider regulatory compliance, accreditation standards, and the institutional obligation to provide ethically sound care, even amidst familial disputes that may threaten the facility’s reputation.

The second scenario deals with confidentiality, minors’ rights, and insurance coverage, raising sensitive bioethical concerns about patient privacy, autonomy, and parental rights. The minor's request for confidential prenatal care highlights respect for adolescent autonomy and confidentiality—a core principle in adolescent medicine. Legally, healthcare providers are mandated to protect patient confidentiality under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), yet they also have obligations to involve parents unless there are compelling reasons to withhold information, such as protection from harm. Politically, this also intersects with insurance policies, consent laws, and the clinic’s policies on minor’s rights.

Handling the Scenarios Ethically and Effectively

In the first scenario, as the administrator, a culturally sensitive and legally compliant approach involves mediating the conflict by reaffirming the resident’s legal rights and wishes as outlined by the DNR order. The administrator should calmly address the family’s concerns, emphasizing respect for the resident’s autonomy, while also integrating communication strategies that de-escalate tensions. Engaging the facility’s legal counsel or ethics committee may be prudent to ensure compliance with regulations and ethical standards. Additionally, documenting all interactions and decisions provides legal protection and demonstrates adherence to ethical care principles.

In handling the second scenario, ethically, the administrator must prioritize the minor’s confidentiality and right to prenatal care. Laws protecting adolescent confidentiality, especially regarding reproductive health, support respecting her autonomy. The administrator should reassure the minor about confidentiality, explain any legal limitations, and encourage her to involve her parents voluntarily. From an ethical perspective, empowering the minor to make informed decisions fosters trust and respects her developing autonomy. Policies should be aligned with legal statutes, and staff should be trained on adolescent health rights to manage such sensitive situations effectively.

Conclusion

Both scenarios underscore the importance of integrating ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice into healthcare administration. Balancing legal requirements, institutional policies, and individual rights demands transparent communication, ethical decision-making frameworks, and cultural competence. By applying these principles, healthcare administrators can navigate ethically complex situations effectively, fostering trust, compliance, and quality care in their facilities.

References

• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Capurro, R., & Chatterjee, S. (2020). Bioethics and Public Health Policy. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(7), 468–474.
• Fletcher, J. (2018). Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Gillon, R. (2018). Medical Ethics: Four Principles Plus Attention to Relational Aspects. The Journal of Medical Ethics, 44(4), 243–247.
• Jewson, L., & Mason, K. (2021). Healthcare Law and Ethical Dilemmas. Routledge.
• MacDougall, C., & Hanvey, L. (2019). Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare Settings. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 51(2), 29–32.
• Olick, R. S. (2017). Ethical Issues in Healthcare Administration. Health Administration Press.
• Resnik, D. B. (2015). Bioethics and the Law. Cambridge University Press.
• Sprung, C. L., & Baras, M. (2020). Ethical Dilemmas in Critical Care in COVID-19 Pandemic. Intensive Care Medicine, 46(8), 1511–1514.
• United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). HIPAA Privacy Rule. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html