Resolving the Ethical Dilemma by Applying Ethical Principles 4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles

Resolving the Ethical Dilemma by Applying Ethical Principles

Ethical Principles are guidelines to help healthcare professional to work and decide through difficult situation and to provide them with better direction on their decision. In this case, study, Dr. Kerr must use the ethical principle of beneficence, autonomy and non-maleficence. Autonomy is the ethical principle that recognizes that patients have the right to make independent decisions. The healthcare providers should not attribute the decisions made to actions such as coercion. Healthcare providers can only make decisions for patients if they do not have the capacity to do so (Bester, 2022). Dr. Kerr recognizes the role of parents’ decision on whether their child should be vaccinated or not. Ana is also below 18 years, implying that the decisions of the parents should be respected. Dr. Kerr respects the autonomy of the parents by not imposing on them the decision they need to adopt.

Dr. Kerr also has to consider the ethical principle of non-maleficence. Non-maleficence entails do no harm to the patient. Dr. Kerr advocates Ana’s vaccination since she believes that it will protect her from diseases. However, she has no influence in the decisions made since the parents have the right to decide for their daughter (Bester, 2022). Therefore, it is important that Dr. Kerr requests the parents to provide her the source of their information and educate them about the credible sources of information they should use in the future. Educating parents will enhance their awareness about the health needs of their daughter, hence, the promotion of beneficence principle of doing good to others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Kerr should continue to advocate for the patient by educating the parents gradually to an evidence base topic regarding vaccination, rather than opinion base. Healthcare Professionals play crucial roles in maintaining the public trust in vaccination, including addressing the parent’s concern. Dr. Kerr should also consider the parents feelings toward vaccination but must present data and documentation to contradict their beliefs. Through it, Ana’s parents will make informed decisions about the best decision that they should adopt to promote their daughters’ optimum health and wellbeing.

References

Adewale, O., Cooper, C., Felix, P., Mitchell, A., Savage, J., & Mase, W. (2019). The Ethics of Parental Refusal to Vaccinate: Costs, Community Safety, and Individual Rights. Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association, 7(2), 98–103. https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2019.070215

Bester, J. C. (2022). Vaccine Ethics: Ethical Considerations in Childhood Vaccination. In N. Nortjé & J. C. Bester (Eds.), Pediatric Ethics: Theory and Practice (pp. 437–451). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86182-7_27

Ethical Case Studies. (2020). Capella.Edu.

https://media.capella.edu/CourseMedia/nhs4000element18655/wrapper.asp

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