Ethics help

This week, you will write your opinion paper for the case (Principle of Justice) you’ve been researching in the previous weeks. Use outside resources (preferably refereed, scholarly journal articles) to defend your opinion of the case.

At this point, you have summarized the case and argued both sides. Your paper should clearly cite why you feel the way that you do about the case, including what should have been changed about its outcome, in your opinion. Assume the vantage point of a professional in ethics and law, and make recommendations based on your opinion of how the outcome of the case should have been handled.

Assignment
Summarized in 2–3 pages why you feel the way you do about the case for which you have been conducting research.
Explained what you think should have been changed about the outcome of the case.
Made recommendations based on your opinion of how the outcome of the case should have been handled.
Presented a structured document free of spelling and grammatical errors.
Properly cited sources using the APA format.

Notes from class on the principle of justice related to healthcare

The principle of justice warns us that equals must be treated equally. The same treatments must be given to all patients whether they are rich, poor, educated, uneducated, able-bodied, or disabled.

· The principle of fairness and justice dictates that work of equal value performed by men and women in the workplace should be rewarded with equal compensation. However, research demonstrates that there is a wage gap, with some estimates as high as 36 percent, due to the undervaluation of work performed by women. This results in injustice; equals are not treated equally. Because pay scales are the same for males and females in many of the healthcare professions, the situation is not as intense as it is in the business world. However, employers and supervisors who are involved in the hiring process must be committed to providing equal pay for equal work.

While it is important to reflect on the above concepts, many ethical topics relating to the medical field fall into categories of common sense.

See Table 1.2 ■ for examples that might fall into the category of a “common sense” approach to ethics.

Common Sense Approach to Ethics

Avoid harming others Respect the rights of others Do not lie or cheat

Keep promises and contracts Obey the law Help those in need

Be fair Reinforce these imperatives in others

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These principles are guidelines for physicians and healthcare professionals to use when patients are unable to provide their personal wishes. For example, there have been cases of “wrongful life” in which a fetus is delivered too soon before development is complete. These infants, if they survive, may have severe disabilities. Physicians may be requested by parents to “do nothing” to resuscitate or save their undeveloped child. Issues such as these weigh heavily upon the shoulders of all medical professionals. Having a set of guidelines, such as the above principles, to follow has helped in some of the decision-making.