What is Bioethics?

Question 1 

Dealing with clinical ethical issues requires nurse practitioners to have adequate skills that help in addressing the problem effectively. In the given case regarding the 54-year-old patient diagnosed with hypertension and risk kidney failure owing to underlying conditions, the nurse practitioner has the mandate to address and assess the ethical situation relating to refusal to take medication. The first necessary skill, in this case, entails solid communication skills. Excellent communication skills, in this case, may help to understand the ethical issue considering it is possible to communicate with the patient and discover their concerns concerning the issue (Preshaw, Brazil, McLaughlin, & Frolic, 2016). The other essential skills entail excellent interpersonal skills, which helps in the nurses and patients to relate effectively. The skill would be relevant in this case considering that it is essential for the care provider to understand the need for medication on more familiar ground in a bid to influence their decision regarding the negative impact that may be associated with the ethical issue.

Question 2 

In the situation that a patient discloses the intention of not the following the medication, the care provider needs to engage the patients in a bid to understand different aspects that concern the issue of refusing to take medication. The first obligation of the care provider entails seeking to understand the point of view of the patient (Butts & Rich, 2019). The patient’s point of view is necessary for a bid to understand why the patient would opt not to take the medication despite the implications associated with the issue. It is essential to understand what the patient thinks of the medication, considering that they may have inadequate information concerning the form of treatment, thus leading to the refusal to take medication. At this point, it is necessary to discuss significant concerns that relate to the condition and mention the underlying implications for not taking the medicines. Lastly, the nurse provider is obligated to negotiate a probable solution or alternative for the issue, if any.

Question 3 

When evaluating the ethical issue involving the refusal to take the prescribed medication, it is necessary to consider the four basic principles associated with medical ethics. Firstly, it is essential to focus on the issue of beneficence, which is an aspect that focuses on acting on the best interest of the patients (Hall, Orentlicher, Bobinski, Bagley, & Cohen, 2018). The second aspect entails the autonomy, which focuses on recognizing the values of the patients regarding the issue. Thirdly, it is necessary to evaluate the element of nonmaleficence, which entails not harm concerning the ethical issue. Lastly, the principle of justice is vital in a bid to capitalize on fair decisions (Pozgar, 2019). The evaluation of the policies helps in ensuring that a care provider is in a position to make the right decisions focusing on all essential aspects of the issue.

Question 4 

In the situation where the patient does not adhere to the prescribed medication, the care providers need to provide a refusal form for the patients to sign and acknowledge that they refused the treatment. The patients need to sign to ensure that the care provider or the health facility does not face legal actions attributed to negligence (Epstein, B., & Turner, 2015). However, in such a situation where the patient risks to have kidney failure, it is essential to terminate the care and allow the patient to seek other options. Terminating the care may have implications for the patient considering the risks associated with the underlying condition. On the part of the care provider, it is essential to ensure that the patient signs a refusal form before terminating the care to ensure that no legal issue could be raised following the termination.

References

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2019).  Nursing ethics . Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Epstein, B., & Turner, M. (2015). The nursing code of ethics: Its value, its history.  OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing ,  20 (2), 1-10.

Hall, M. A., Orentlicher, D., Bobinski, M. A., Bagley, N., & Cohen, I. G. (2018).  Health care law and ethics . Wolters Kluwer Law & Business.

Pozgar, G. D. (2019).  Legal and ethical issues for health professionals . Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Preshaw, D. H., Brazil, K., McLaughlin, D., & Frolic, A. (2016). Ethical issues experienced by healthcare workers in nursing homes: a literature review. Nursing Ethics ,  23 (5), 490-506.