Ethical values are essential for health care providers. There are universal rules set to conduct the behavior and activities of healthcare providers when providing services to the patients and the family. One of the significant ethical values that every health care provider must respect is autonomy. The ethical principle of autonomy requires the health care provider to provide comprehensive information regarding the health condition of the patient while disclosing prognoses and diagnoses ( Rising, 2017) . In this case, while the principle of autonomy requires the nurse to consider the plea of the family, the right of the patient should come first. According to Bumb et al. (2017), a diagnosis of cancer is a stressful and life-altering event for both the patient and the family. Although the family does not want to tell the patient about their condition to reduce emotion and ensure she enjoys her last days in peace, the patient has the right to know her status and make an informed decision on the best treatment. The essay will examine the legal or moral responsibilities, rights, and obligations of nurses in clinical practice in relation to the ethical dilemma.
Based on the case, the nurse has the legal responsibility to exercise the principle of autonomy without interference by the family. Although the family wanted their patient to enjoy the last days of her life without knowing her health situation, the nurse ought to have talked to the family and explained to them of the ethical principle of autonomy. By doing so, the two parties come into agreement on the best way to approach the patient and tell her of her health condition. Research conducted by Bumb et al. (2017) shows that despite the emotions attached to a situation, truthful disclosure to the patient should always come ahead of the family. Nurses should not, at any point, lie to patients about their health condition in an attempt to prevent emotional distress ( Rising, 2017) . The nurse should disclose the entire information to avoid giving false hope to the patient; however, the same should be done in an organized and well-thought manner while considering the patient's culture.
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When caring for the patients, nurses need to understand the cultural background of the patient before disclosing their health information. The nurses need to understand the language, customs, and beliefs of the patient regarding terminal illness and end-of-life before informing them of their health condition (Bumb et al., 2017). Cultural competency i.e., new cultural information, practicing and engaging in cross-cultural interactions, and viewing intercultural interaction positively, is one way that nurses practice autonomy and protect the rights of patients. Cultural competency makes it easy for nurses to approach patients and explain their health condition, which improves the overall outcome for patients care. The patient decides their treatment independently unless when they are minors or in critical condition where the family members make the decision ( Haddad & Geiger, 2019) . The role of the nurse is only to guide the patient in making an informed decision.
Nurses have the moral responsibility to show care and humility to patients, especially when dealing with issues of beginning-of-life and on end-of-life. In this case, the nurse has to apply the ethical principle of beneficence, which deals with showing acts of charity, mercy, and kindness by doing what is morally right. Beneficence allows nurses to act in a way that contributes to the wellbeing of the patient and refrain from anything that causes more harm ( Abdula et al., 2019) . The ethics of beneficence guide the nurses into considering standards of professionalism and advocating for high standards that ensure improvement in patient’s health care. Upon communicating with the family, the nurse has to choose the right way to approach the patient and reveal actual information regarding their terminal illness. In a clinical situation involving terminal illness, nurses need to apply an evidence-based communication model when breaking the bds news to the patient (Bumb et al., 2017). Therefore, the nurses have the right to pursue a risk-benefit ratio when deciding on the health of the patient.
In summary, health care providers are faced with an ethical dilemma, especially when taking care of patients with a terminal illness. It is the duty and obligation of nurses to practice the principle of autonomy by revealing factual information regarding the health of the patient. While disclosing the information, nurses have to act. Cultural competency skills help the nurse to approach issues of end-of-life professionally without going against the cultural norms and practices.
References
Abdulah, D. M., Saeed, M. S., & Mohammed, A. H.(2019). Diagnosis disclosure in patients with serious diseases. DOI: 10.5430/ijh.v6n1p28
Bumb, M., Keefe, J., Miller, L., & Overcash, J. (2017). Breaking bad news: An evidence-based review of communication models for oncology nurses. Clinical journal of oncology nursing , 21 (5), 573-580.
Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2019). Nursing Ethical Considerations.
Rising, M. L. (2017). Truth telling as an element of culturally competent care at end of life. Journal of Transcultural Nursing , 28 (1), 48-55.
