Unquestionably, healthcare services are vital to every individual; thus high-quality treatment needs to be offered in this field. As a result, the sick individual attains a satisfying diagnosis, disease prevention, or treatment. Consequently, medical practitioners are required to observe ethical codes of conduct while executing their duties. Additionally, they should be guided by principles that define the correct and right behaviors and actions to take in different situations. Subsequently, such laws assist doctors and nurses in decision making while at the workplace. Autonomy and Beneficence are examples of ethical principles used in health care settings.
Despite the health care professionals being mandated to take care of the sick, patients should retain the right of their body control. In medicine, this right is called autonomy. It allows a medical practitioner to advise or suggest the most suitable action to be taken on the patient. However, they do not have a right of doing anything against the patient’s will or persuade them to accept what they do not want (Saint Joseph’s University, n.d.). For instance, if an individual does not wish to take a certain kind of treatment on religious bases, the health care provider should not go on with the therapy or persuade the patient to accept the treatment. Ethically, the practitioner should only suggest or inform the patient about the treatment and let them make their decision. The autonomy principle states that sick individuals should be allowed to decide over their body independently, and according to their beliefs and values.
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Healthcare services offered to a patient are essential for their survival. As a result, the principle of beneficence requires healthcare providers to do their best to benefit the patient (Bernstein, 2017). Consequently, a medical practitioner is required to maintain a high level of knowledge and skills for them to provide quality and ethical services that benefit the patient. An example that explains the beneficence principle is in the case of a fatal illness or accident. In such a situation, a health care service provider presumes that the patient would like to be aggressively treated, and their lives saved. The principle in question encourages the service providers to maintain superior and ethical practices, compassionate care, and continuously striving towards excellence.
Basic principles of medical ethics guide the health care service providers on the actions needed to provide quality and ethical services. Additionally, a balance is created by respecting the patient’s will and offering the required services effectively. For instance, the principle of autonomy needs the doctor to respect the will of the patient but also suggest the necessary actions. As a result, the patient’s values and beliefs are not violated, and an alternative medication may be recommended. Also, the principles of beneficence encourage medical practitioners to conduct their duties efficiently for the good of the patient. Therefore, principles of health care ethics should be observed as they ensure optimal patient’s care and safety.
References
Saint Joseph’s University (n.d.). How the four principles of health care ethics improve patient care. Retrieved from https://online.sju.edu/graduate/masters-health-administration/resources/articles/four-principles-of-health-care-ethics-improve-patient-care
Bernstein, R. (2017). Beneficence nursing and ethics. Retrieved from https://online.husson.edu/beneficence-nursing-ethics/
