Nursing for Professional Standards and Human Rights -myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theNursing Ethics for Professional Standards and Human Rights. Answer: Introduction Ethics, professional standards and human rights play a crucial role in guiding medics. This it is common and a must to do for all medical professionals. The boards and relevant organizations put in place these measures to ensure that medics work and maintain their profession in a way expected of them (Blumenthal-Barby, Burroughs, 2012). In addition to that, they also ensure that patients attain the best treatment and respecting their dignity and rights. This essay concentrates on analyzing a case study that puts into context the ethics, professional codes and rights of patients. It also highlights some of the violations that medics can commit during their practice. Specifically, the case study involves a physiotherapist called Henry treating a 73 years old patient, for bilateral knee replacement. In the same hospital, there is also a surgeon who comes to work while drunk and Henry decides to report him to practice manager, Sally. Therefore, this paper will analyze the case study in the context of medical ethics, professional standards and human rights and dignity of patients. Lastly, it will provide recommendations for the practice as far as the case study is concerned. Ethical issues and conflicts In the case study, several ethical issues come out, to start with the first one, Henry discontinues treating Jimy based on the fact that he has a waiting list of other patients. In addition to that, there is a case of the surgeon coming to work under the influence of a substance, specifically, alcohol. This is another ethical issue as far as the case study is concerned. Lastly, Sally, instructs Henry not to report the drunk surgeon again but does nothing to stop the surgeon from coming to work while under the influence of alcohol. Analysis of the ethical issues in conflicts and perspectives In the medical profession, the case study presents a scenario where moral obligations are in conflicts. To start with the physiotherapist, Henry, discontinuing treatment for the patient to treat other patients raises ethical concerns (Gostin, Sridhar, 2014). The patients wife suggests that the patients have not been following treatment at home, making his situation worse, which calls upon even further attention. However, despite all this, the physiotherapist decides to discontinue his treatment for him and instead refers him to a massage therapist as he appears to be too busy. On the other hand, treating under the influence of substance can obviously impair one from providing the best medical care. The surgeon comes to work drunk. Henry, the physiotherapist, decides to report him, seemingly, to rectify the situation but Sally argues that he needs not to interfere with the matter and that she will deal with it (Faden, Beauchamp, Kass, 2014). It is worrying that this condition persists and raises the questions of patients risks. Moreover, the scenario begs the question of why should Sally refuse to grant Henry permission to report the grave matter as such, given that it is in the best interest of patients and the reputation of the profession. Lastly, because Jimy is transferred to another medical practitioner, is it not right for him to be given the reasons why this is the case (Chandratilake, McAleer, Gibson, 2012). Is it not important to refer one patient for others who are in the queue, given that the condition of Henry has worsened? Professional codes The case study presents us with the various professional code of conduct that was either used correctly, breached or that need to be put in place as far the practice of medicine is concerned. To start with the conduct of the physiotherapist, it a professional code of conduct stipulates that physiotherapists must act to promote the health and well-being of the patient (Hawley,2014). The code requires that the physiotherapist consider the health and also the well-being of the patient as the priority and treating patients fairly. In addition to that, it binds the physiotherapist with the notion of creating a respectful partnership that aimed at acknowledging the patients needs. In the case study, on the other hand, Henry honor this code, for instance, terminates his treatment towards him for the sake of others and but also ensure than he accesses medical care by transferring him to a massage therapist. On the other hand, Henry, the physiotherapist upholds the professional code of conduct by informing Sally of the manner in which the surgeon come to work, and even treat patients while under the influence of alcohol. In the medical profession, physiotherapist must be ready to accept responsibility for upholding the integrity of the profession. Thus, by the standards, he is required to bring to attention any unsafe behavior that he either sees in the practice by other professionals to the relevant authority (Matiti, 2015). Therefore, his conduct goes in line with what is stipulated under the same code of conduct. For the case of the surgeon, professional code stipulates that surgeons must take responsibility in maintaining their health and well-being. In this code of conduct, it expects all surgeons to refrain from any activity like taking alcohol or drug abuse that may impair their state of health while performing their duties (Carrese et al., 2015). However, in the case study, the surgeon come to work while drunk and is alleged to treat patients in that state. This is in violation of the professional standards and endangers the life of patients. Human rights and dignity relevant to the case study Like any other person, patients and doctors have rights, and this extends even during their practice. In the case of the case study, the most applicable rights and dignity include but are not limited to the right to highest attainable standards of health, right to bodily integrity and right to information (Shildrick, 2015). Considering the case study, the patient does get the highest attainable standard of health. The physiotherapist discontinues treating Jimmy because of his tight schedule and refers him to a massage therapist. In so doing, the patient can get access to the highest medical attainable. In addition to that, the surgeon is alleged to be treating patients while drunk. It is likely to impair his competency by providing shoddy treatment to patient something that is in violation of the right and dignity of patients (Wynia et al., 2014). Moreover, patients have a right to information, and it is in the best interest that Henry explains to Jimmy the reasons behind him referri ng Jimmy to a massage therapist. In the case study, it appears that the patient is left in the dark which is another violation of the rights and dignity of Jimmy. Lastly, patients have rights to bodily integrity. In regards to this stipulated human dignity and right, patients are to be allowed to switch medics as they deem fit (Cohen, Ezer, 2013). It is inappropriate therefore for Henry to switch responsibility to another physician in the absence of Jimmys consent. Lastly, is access to care, that medics must adhere to in the practice of their profession? It requires medics to make a referral in good faith. The specific right also recommends that physicians do the referral in timely enabling patients to access health care. In the case study, the referral is not made promptly neither is it going to benefit the patient. Thus, it is right for one to argue that Henry violates this right which is not acceptable in the medical profession. Ethical principles relevant to the case study Ethics govern every professional practice, and they form the bases upon which a person must practice their career. Some of the ethical principles relevant to the case study include beneficence, autonomy, non-maleficence, and justice (Corey et al., 2014). In the case study under, there are various ways that these principles come into play, either by the violation or used correctly. To start with the principle of beneficence, this denotes a physician making a decision that demonstrates compassion, or positive impacts on others, and in this case study, to the patient. It is the desire for professionals to aim at doing well as part of their core values (Birden et al., 2014). As for the case study, the medical practitioner embraces this principle in many ways. To start with Henry, he demonstrates this principle towards the patient by referring him to another medic when the patients overwhelm him. It demonstrates beneficence for the part of Henry for doing anything possible to help the patient and also create time for other patients. Another principle of ethics is autonomy, which is the ability of medics to give patients all information relating to treatment that is relevant and useful in regards to their treatment. It is in violation of the basic tenet of autonomy as the principle of ethics in health care (Lombarts et al., 2014). By so doing, Henry violates this principle. Moreover, there is also justice as a principle of ethics which denotes the fair distribution of resources or services in the provision of healthcare. It is worth noting that Henry transfers part of his duty to another practitioner to serve others. This is a demonstration of justice as services available are availed to patients as per their need. On the other hand, non-maleficence in medicine and nursing explains the act of aiming not to do any harm to patients. This can involve doing activities or failing to do duties that may injure or put the patients health at risk (General Assembly of the World Medical Association, 2014). For instance, in the case study, the surgeon performs surgery while drunk, this is in violation of the principle as it put the patients life at risk. In addition to that, failure of the practice manager to act swiftly in solving the vice is another violation of this ethical principle as it makes it possible for the surgeon to continue with his endangering behavior. Ethical theory Feminist Theory- This is an ethical theory which requires practitioners to examine the context of the situation before coming up with a conclusion. In particular, it tries to examine whether an act is right or wrong, and how it affects all the parties concerned, like patients or family. Recommendation to the practice There is a lot that needs to be done, about the case study. Firstly, the health care centers must learn to notify patients of any intentions transferring them so that the can make informed consent. In addition to that, the practice manager must form a committee to investigate the conduct of the surgeon who performs his duties while drunk. Another proposal to the practice is that the practice manager should encourage medics to report misbehaving professionals as it is one of the best professional codes of conduct. Another recommendation is that practice managers should allow staff to express themselves and argue the reasons behind their decisions. For instance, Henry has a genuine reason why he discontinues his services to Jimmy. Lastly, the medical center should ensure that they have enough medics or in particular, physiotherapists to cater for patients (Abbott, 2014). Conclusion The case study demonstrates medical professional codes and ethical principles that are either violated or practiced. It also identifies some of the things that need to be done as a proposal to the practice. As far as ethical principles are concerned, the ones relevant to the case study include justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and autonomy. On the other hand, the professional standards applicable to the case study are; physiotherapists must act to promote the health and well-being of the patient, physiotherapist must be ready to accept responsibility for upholding the integrity of the profession and that surgeons must take responsibility in maintaining their health and well-being. There are also human rights that are relevant to the case study. They involve patients rights in accessing the highest attainable standards of health, right to bodily integrity, right to information and access to care. The practitioners embrace some of the recommended practices while avoiding others. L astly, the various recommendation based on the professional behaviors can be used to avoid violations of these code of conduct, rights or dignity, and ethics. References Abbott, A. (2014). The system of professions: An essay on the division of expert labor. University of Chicago Press. Birden, H., Glass, N., Wilson, I., Harrison, M., Usherwood, T., Nass, D. (2014). Defining professionalism in medical education: A systematic review. Medical teacher, 36(1), 47-61. Blumenthal-Barby, J. S., Burroughs, H. (2012). Seeking better health care outcomes: the ethics of using the nudge. The American Journal of Bioethics, 12(2), 1-10. Carrese, J. A., Malek, J., Watson, K., Lehmann, L. S., Green, M. J., McCullough, L. B., ... Doukas, D. J. (2015). 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