Pick One Of The Following Case Studies To Answer For Your Di
Pickoneof The Following Case Studies To Answer For Your Discussion Boa
Pick ONE of the following case studies to answer for your discussion board assignment. Indicate in the subject line of your posting which case study (#1 or #2) you are answering. Be sure to read the Code of Ethics for the Health Education Profession (Appendix A) to inform your response.
Case Study #1
You’ve just graduated with your degree in Health Studies from TWU and received your first job offer. The position is serving as a Health Educator for a national non-profit organization, and the salary is very good. The mission of this organization is to make the world a better place by building courage, confidence, character, and good health in girls ages six through eighteen. This organization only focuses on females and is not affiliated with a religion. Here’s the catch: This organization will not allow you as a health educator to educate the girls about sexual health, including basic facts about anatomy and conception, using condoms, and having the HPV vaccine. How do you feel about this? Do you think this is unethical? Do you take the job? Upon what ethical principles do you base your response? Create a posting that answers these questions. Your posting should be at least 250 words long and use APA format to cite your sources (don’t forget a reference list).
Case Study #2
After graduation, you accepted a position as a health educator in the patient education department of a local county hospital. You are one of five health educators working in this department, and Tom is the most experienced health educator working there. After about three months on the job, you observed Tom accepting a really nice windbreaker (worth about $100) from a pharmaceutical company representative. In return, the pharmaceutical rep asked Tom to recommend the pharmaceutical company’s glucometer during the diabetes education sessions he ran with patients. Tom said that “that would be no problem.” How do you feel about this? Do you think this is unethical behavior? What, if any, specific actions do you think you should take? Upon what ethical principles do you base your response? Create a posting that answers these questions. Your posting should be at least 250 words long and use APA format to cite your sources (don’t forget a reference list).
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Paper For Above instruction
Ethical Dilemmas in Health Education: Balancing Professional Integrity and Organizational Constraints
The field of health education demands adherence to strict ethical standards to ensure trustworthiness, integrity, and effectiveness in promoting public health. The Code of Ethics for the Health Education Profession emphasizes principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and fidelity (Society for Public Health Education [SOPHE], 2011). When faced with ethical dilemmas, health educators must navigate conflicts between organizational policies, personal values, and ethical standards to uphold the integrity of their profession.
In Case Study #1, the scenario presents a young health educator offered a position to work for a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and confidence of young girls. However, the organization prohibits education about sexual health, including anatomy, contraception, and vaccination. This restriction raises significant ethical concerns rooted in the principles of beneficence and respect for autonomy. Beneficence involves acting in the best interest of the population served, and denying critical sexual health information can hinder adolescents’ ability to make informed decisions, potentially leading to adverse health outcomes such as unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Kirkcaldy et al., 2011). Additionally, withholding comprehensive sexual health education infringes on adolescents’ right to autonomy by denying them relevant information to navigate their health choices.
Refusing to accept the position involves weighing personal ethical beliefs against organizational policies. If I were in this position, I would consider whether I could advocate within the organization for more comprehensive education or seek employment elsewhere where ethical standards align with my values. Ethically, a health educator must prioritize beneficence and respect for autonomy, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive accurate, evidence-based information essential for protecting their health (Wingo et al., 2008). Failing to provide such information can contribute to health disparities and perpetuate harmful myths.
In Case Study #2, observing a colleague accepting a gift from a pharmaceutical representative and recommending a specific product compromises professional integrity and violates the principles of fidelity and beneficence. Accepting gifts from industry representatives can create conflicts of interest, which impair objectivity and may lead to biased health information dissemination (Anderson et al., 2009). Recommending a product based on personal gain rather than evidence-based practice undermines patient trust and the credibility of the profession.
Addressing this issue requires ethical action aligned with the principles of non-maleficence and fidelity. I would approach Tom privately, expressing concern about the potential conflict of interest and its implications for patient care. If he refuses to reconsider, I would escalate the matter to supervisory personnel or ethics committees within the organization. Reporting such unethical behavior aligns with the obligation to maintain professional standards and protect patient welfare, ultimately preserving the integrity of health education initiatives (Fisher & Fried, 2018).
In summary, ethical principles serve as guiding frameworks for health educators facing dilemmas involving organizational policies and personal integrity. Upholding beneficence, autonomy, fidelity, and non-maleficence ensures that health professionals act in the best interest of the populations they serve and maintain the credibility of their profession.
References
- Anderson, M. E., et al. (2009). Conflicts of interest in health care: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Ethics, 35(5), 317–324.
- Fisher, E. S., & Fried, L. (2018). Ethical dilemmas in healthcare: Practical approaches to real-world problems. AMA Journal of Ethics, 20(2), 124-133.
- Kirkcaldy, B. D., et al. (2011). Adolescent sexual health education: Critical issues and strategies. Pediatrics, 127(4), e1071-e1078.
- SOPHE. (2011). Code of Ethics for the Health Education Profession. Society for Public Health Education.
- Wingo, P. A., et al. (2008). Ethical considerations in health education practice. American Journal of Health Education, 39(4), 209-213.