Ethical Principles in Decisions Regarding a Individual Population
Beneficence is one of the ethical framework, which it is defined as the duty to do good and prevent or remove harm (Hamric, 2009).
I have been nursing for almost twenty years, as a LPN and RNBSN, and have seen several tough ethical dilemmas in elderly patients. This breaks my heart and my personal beliefs and values are related to the issues surrounding the elderly population. This comes down to one single concept, they are human beings and should be treated as any other human being would want to be treated. Some view the elderly as grown up children, requiring someone to look after them while making decisions for them, but I feel like these individuals have earned the right to make their own decisions, as long as they are competent. I feel like these individuals have every right to their autonomy. These people are individuals with the ability, in most cases, to have personal freedoms and the ability to choose what happens to them. While some elderly may need assistance in understanding what is happening, most are fully aware of what is going on with them and around them. Some cases involve the family member doing what they may feel the elderly adult would want, attempting to “do right” by the elderly adult, and this is acceptable. The family member is attempting to show beneficence, which is alright unless it conflicts with what the elderly states that they want (Guido, 2006). This is a very blurry subject when the elderly is not mentally competent. Additionally, a family member may also attempt non maleficence, where they do not wish to see harm come to the elder (Guido, 2006). This again is acceptable in my book unless it conflicts with what the elderly adult wants for themselves. Here is where we also see a very blurry line with elderly adults that are mentally incompetent. The combination of an elder having autonomy and the family expressing beneficence or non maleficence brings one to the topic of justice. This is where one must determine what is fair for this patient (Guido, 2006). Is it what the patient desires or is it what would be better for the patient in someone else’s eyes?
As a patient advocate, I would have to make sure that the competent elderly adult understands the ramifications of their choice, but would allow their decision to stand. This is where autonomy overrides anything else with humans that are capable of making their own decisions in the course of their life.
Guido, G. W. (2006). Legal and ethical issues in nursing. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc.
Hamric, A. B., Spross, J. A., & Hanson, C.M. (2009). Advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach (4th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Saunders
Beneficence is one of the ethical framework, which it is defined as the duty to do good and prevent or remove harm (Hamric, 2009).
I have been nursing for almost twenty years, as a LPN and RNBSN, and have seen several tough ethical dilemmas in elderly patients. This breaks my heart and my personal beliefs and values are related to the issues surrounding the elderly population. This comes down to one single concept, they are human beings and should be treated as any other human being would want to be treated. Some view the elderly as grown up children, requiring someone to look after them while making decisions for them, but I feel like these individuals have earned the right to make their own decisions, as long as they are competent. I feel like these individuals have every right to their autonomy. These people are individuals with the ability, in most cases, to have personal freedoms and the ability to choose what happens to them. While some elderly may need assistance in understanding what is happening, most are fully aware of what is going on with them and around them. Some cases involve the family member doing what they may feel the elderly adult would want, attempting to “do right” by the elderly adult, and this is acceptable. The family member is attempting to show beneficence, which is alright unless it conflicts with what the elderly states that they want (Guido, 2006). This is a very blurry subject when the elderly is not mentally competent. Additionally, a family member may also attempt non maleficence, where they do not wish to see harm come to the elder (Guido, 2006). This again is acceptable in my book unless it conflicts with what the elderly adult wants for themselves. Here is where we also see a very blurry line with elderly adults that are mentally incompetent. The combination of an elder having autonomy and the family expressing beneficence or non maleficence brings one to the topic of justice. This is where one must determine what is fair for this patient (Guido, 2006). Is it what the patient desires or is it what would be better for the patient in someone else’s eyes?
As a patient advocate, I would have to make sure that the competent elderly adult understands the ramifications of their choice, but would allow their decision to stand. This is where autonomy overrides anything else with humans that are capable of making their own decisions in the course of their life.
Guido, G. W. (2006). Legal and ethical issues in nursing. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc.
Hamric, A. B., Spross, J. A., & Hanson, C.M. (2009). Advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach (4th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Saunders