Ethical Issue
At Highlands hospital, form was a priority above everything else. The hospital regarded form more than the well-being of a mother and child. For instance, a woman had to deliver based on dates on the calendar. This meant that the hospital did not wait for the baby to indicate. This is an ethical issue because the nurse had to choose between adhering to the form guidelines or prioritizing the health of a mother and baby (Armstrong & Feldman, 2006). While it is crucial to deliver a baby on time, the health of the mother and baby is also vital. In some pregnancies, the due date can pass. Hence, the ethical issue or dilemma in this story is the induction of labor before the cervix is not ready. This can complicate the delivery process.
Ethical Theory
Utilitarianism theory is applicable in this context. Based on this theory, a nurse will make the decision based on the outcomes. For instance, before the induction of labor, a nurse will determine if it is safer. In other words, a nurse needs to take action that would result in the greatest happiness or good. Sometimes, inducing labor can be the best decision to take. In some instances, a nurse has to wait for the cervix to be ready before inducing labor.
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Ethical Principle
Autonomy is one of the ethical principles applicable to this issue. Based on this principle, a nurse will explain to the pregnant woman about the health risks associated with inducing labor. A pregnant woman will decide after understanding the risks and benefits. In this way, a pregnant woman will either refuse or accept a nurse to induce labor (Nicholson, 2015). In other words, a nurse needs to explain the health risks of inducing pregnancy. However, a nurse can apply beneficence to overlook a patient’s autonomy.
References
Armstrong, P., & Feldman, S. (2006). A midwife's story . Pinter & Martin Publishers.
Nicholson, J. M. (2015). The 39-week rule and term stillbirth: Beneficence, autonomy, and the ethics of the current restrictions on early-term labor induction in the US. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth , 15 (S1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-15-s1-a9
