Major Principles Of Healthcare Ethics Include The Principle

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Major principles of health care ethics include the principles of respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. Consider the following ethical dilemma: Your patient was recently diagnosed with a rare cancer that has invaded his liver. He has been given a prognosis of 6 months to live. He would like to participate in any treatment that will keep him alive. He requests to get on the list for a liver transplant but does not meet the criteria to be placed on the list.

Apply the ethical principles to this case, discussing each in turn and providing rationale for your stance on the patient's request.

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The ethical principles of respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice serve as foundational guides in navigating complex clinical dilemmas such as the one presented. In this case, a patient with a terminal diagnosis requests a liver transplant, despite not meeting the established medical criteria. Applying these principles systematically can facilitate a balanced and ethically sound response.

Respect for Autonomy

The principle of respect for autonomy emphasizes honoring the patient's right to make informed decisions regarding his health care. Respecting autonomy involves providing the patient with comprehensive information about his condition, prognosis, and the reasons he does not qualify for a transplant. It also involves acknowledging his wishes and values, even if he chooses to pursue options that are not aligned with medical guidelines. While respecting autonomy does not mean permitting all requests, it requires ensuring that the patient’s choices are informed and voluntary.

Nonmaleficence

The principle of nonmaleficence obliges healthcare providers to avoid causing harm. In this context, performing a transplant on a patient who does not meet criteria may pose significant medical risks, including surgical complications, graft failure, and overall futility. Moreover, it could divert resources from other patients with better prognosis, potentially leading to harm by misallocation. Therefore, proceeding with an unapproved transplant could violate this principle by subjecting the patient to unnecessary risks without the likelihood of benefit.

Beneficence

Beneficence requires acting in the best interest of the patient to promote well-being and alleviate suffering. For this patient, providing aggressive treatments outside standard criteria may offer no real benefit and could prolong suffering or diminish quality of life. Conversely, engaging in honest discussions about palliative care options and supportive measures can align care with beneficence by focusing on comfort, dignity, and quality of life, rather than futile interventions.

Justice

The principle of justice pertains to fairness in the distribution of healthcare resources. Liver transplants are scarce, life-saving resources that must be allocated according to established criteria aimed at maximizing overall benefit and fairness. Offering an unqualified patient a transplant would be unjust to others who meet criteria and are eligible, potentially disadvantaging those with a higher likelihood of survival and benefit. Upholding justice supports adherence to current guidelines to ensure equitable access and distribution of scarce resources.

In conclusion, applying these principles suggests that while the patient’s autonomy should be respected through honest and compassionate communication, proceeding with a transplant outside established criteria would violate nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. The healthcare team should guide the patient towards palliative and supportive care options, reaffirming respect for his wishes while maintaining ethical integrity and fairness in resource allocation.

References

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