PK

Recording-2025-02-28T17:34:55.228Z

Introduction to Ethical Decision Making

  • Understanding right and wrong can be complex, especially in healthcare.

  • Decision-making often requires quick judgments without extensive discussion on ethics.

The Dilemma of Choice

  • Example Scenario: Train Conundrum

    • A train is headed towards 20 people.

    • You have the option to pull a lever to divert the train, causing it to kill one person instead.

    • This raises the question: Should you act to minimize casualties or do nothing?

Case Study: George Floyd

  • The George Floyd incident illustrates the complexity of moral choices.

  • One must consider if inaction is a choice in itself, leading to moral confusion.

Variability in Ethical Perspectives

  • Different backgrounds and beliefs (religion, culture, age) impact one's moral compass.

  • Ethical care in healthcare must accommodate diverse perspectives.

Ethical Care and Standards

  • Importance of delivering standardized ethical care regardless of individual differences.

  • Reference to a specific document (code of ethics) that is essential for study and understanding ethical frameworks.

Group Discussion Exercise

  • Students are to break into groups and discuss specific ethical terms and concepts.

  • The importance of examples from real life or clinical experiences to understand these terms better.

Understanding Ethical Dilemmas

  • Definition of Ethical or Moral Dilemma

    • Arises when there are compelling reasons for and against multiple actions.

    • Makes decision-making challenging, as one must choose one over the other.

Ethical Distress

  • Ethical distress occurs when nurses cannot act according to their moral judgment due to systemic or personal constraints.

  • Such situations can create feelings of frustration and guilt but can also lead to self-reflection and growth.

The Concept of Resilience in Ethical Practices

  • Resilience helps individuals overcome ethical challenges and maintain commitment to their values.

  • Encourages advocacy for ethical actions despite setbacks.

Practical Example

  • An example of a complicated healthcare situation involving a patient with severe complications.

  • The emotional distress experienced by healthcare teams when discussing difficult prognosis and treatment with patients and their families.

  • Highlights the strain of feeling unable to provide the best care due to legal and systemic limitations.

Conclusion

  • Acknowledgment of the challenges in ethical decision-making and the necessity of understanding different moral perspectives in healthcare.