Ethical_Decisions_and_Confidentiality

Running Head: ETHICS AND CONFIDENTIALITY Ethical Decisions for Confidentiality Ethical Decisions for Confidentiality Describing ethical dilemmas are often confused with the concept of right and wrong. Many people think that an immoral decision contradicts the understanding of ethics. Ethical dilemmas do not involve right or wrong, but they test the perception of acceptability based on morals and values. Ethics do not rely upon religion, law, and/or science as a means of understanding and defining ethical standards. Beliefs and perception defines ethics and overall morality. For example, in Africa, female genital mutilation is an accepted practice among tribesman. However, in the United States, people perceive this tradition as offensive and abusive towards human rights. One society perceives this action as tradition while another categorizes it as immoral. Confidentiality falls into the category of perceived standards. The writer suggests that events should dictate the response. Breaching confidentiality can open up Pandora’s box. When one violation occurs, the violator usually justifies violating other principles based on a perceived outcome. Confidentiality can be dated all the way back to the Hippocratic oath. The oath swears to uphold the duties and actions that will best serve the patient physically, mentally, and ethically. To break confidentiality would result in a defection from the oath. Confidentiality preserves privacy and a client/patient relationship. When either issue is broken, trust is lost. In the situation of the ER doctor, young patients are usually more hesitant in regards to medical care. The primary reason is because young people do not want to alert parental guardians to their private affairs. Thus, a lack of confidentiality and in turn a lack of privacy and trust, will deter younger people from seeking out medical treatment or more importantly receive mental support. Without confidentiality full treatment may not be realized and medical professional efforts will be hampered due to the reclusive nature of patients providing private medical information. Without the proper information, how can a medical team provide adequate care' The writer does not agree with the doctor’s decision to communicate with the school about the young woman’s illness and subsequent recipients of the illness. When confidentiality is broken, trust is also broken. Trusting a person is a long and strenuous process. People trust medical professionals while bypassing this process due to the assumed confidentiality policy. However, when there is no policy, trust is not easily gained. Therefore, when breaking confidentiality, the character and relationship between both parties is dissolved. More importantly reputation is damaged and it is not easily repairable. There are two principles that assert the writer’s stance on the ER doctor. The Rights theory dictates that ethical decisions must be made in support of rights laid out by society. It is ethically responsible to protect an individual’s right to privacy due to how consistent the majority of the people agree and respect the right. For example, United States citizens take the right to privacy very seriously. This is evident due to its documentation in the Bill of Rights. The privacy right is granted by the government and accepted by the majority of United States citizens. It would be unethical to deprive a person their right to privacy. In the medical case, the ER doctor has violated the patient’s right to privacy due to the doctor breaking confidentiality. The Deontological approach states that when deciding a decision to an ethical dilemma, the duties of the individual should be given top priority. We can adapt this approach to our medical example. The ER doctor is bound by the Hippocratic oath to act for the patient’s benefit. This is one of many duties the doctor has to the patient. If confidentiality is broken, then the oath is disregarded, thus making an unethical decision. The solution that should be entertained is educating the patient on the illness and how it may affect the people around her. Hopefully, this process will convince the patient to voluntarily involve her parents and any other individuals that may be infected as well. The first step in the decision making process is identifying the problem. Should the doctor tell the parents or should she keep it to herself' Next, identify the evidence and link to the problem. The young woman has a disease contracted from another partner, who may infect somebody else. Analyzing the alternatives would involve either breaking confidentiality or keeping it. Entertaining this long process will allow you to view all pieces of evidence and experiences and apply it to your views. When an ethics committee analyzes this case they may choose to decide another way. Whatever decision is made, the committee will take into account the rights of all individuals involved, the duties and responsibilities of everybody involved, precedent will be analyzed if any, and unfortunately they would take into account law and regulations. These factors shed light onto solutions and decisions that may not be evident at the time. This framework gives the committee assurance that all evidence and testimony have been heard. They may also use approaches such as Utilitarianism, Justice, and Beneficence approaches. These approaches give preference to the majority rather than the minority. Therefore, any decision made to protect society or a group of individuals can be justified in the name of these approaches. This case can only be solved by perceptions. Every individual’s experiences and life lessons shapes their ethical standards. The ER doctor felt that it was necessary to divulge this sensitive information to school authorities rather than to parental units. The author thinks that she was negligent in her medical responsibilities toward the patient. The Deontological and Rights approaches dictate that a doctor’s duty toward the patient and the patient’s rights have to be first priority. When it is all said and done, there will be regret, however, the process that is used will allow people to overcome these regrets much easily.