Virtue Ethics EssayRespond to one of the following three “news clippings” related to virtue ethics. Write a 2 page essay addressing the discussion questions posed for the one you selected. Be sure to clearly identify the news clipping you selected.#1 Wrong Operation Doctor (ethics and integrity) Hospitals find it hard to protect patients from wrong-site surgery. Last year a jury returned a $20 million negligence verdict against Arkansas Children’s Hospital for surgery performed on the wrong side of the brain of a 15-year-old boy who was left psychotic and severely brain damaged. Testimony showed that the error was not disclosed to his parents for more than a year. The hospital issued a statement saying it deeply regretted the error and had “redoubled our efforts to prevent” a recurrence. So, what happened? “Health care has far too little accountability for results … . All the pressures are on the side of production; that’s how you get paid,” said Peter Pronovost, a prominent safety expert and medical director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Innovation in Quality Patient Care. He added that increased pressure to quickly turn over operating rooms has trumped patient safety, increasing the chance of error. Kenneth W. Kizer, who coined the term “never event” nearly a decade ago when he headed the National Quality Forum, a leading patient safety organization, said he believes reducing the number of errors will require tougher reporting rules and increased transparency.
Assignment Discussion Questions
1. Discuss the issues of integrity in this case.
2. Should criminal charges be considered in this case, if accurately reported? Discuss your answer.
3. Why did you choose to respond to this story?
4. How is integrity displayed in your clinical setting?
#2 Cheney’s Staff Cuts Testimony on Warming (Health care, Politics, and Trust) The players and the politicians: Dick Cheney former Vice President of the United States, Jason K. Burnett former EPA deputy associate administrator, and Julie L. Gerberding, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Jason K. Burnett, former EPA deputy associate administrator, said In a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), that last October an official from Cheney’s office ordered six pages to be edited out of the testimony of Julie L. Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gerberding had planned to say that the “CDC considers climate change a serious public health concern.”
Assignment Discussion Questions
1. Discuss how headlines such as this affect your opinion of politicians.
2. At the end of our days, the most basic principles of life–trust and survival–are on trial. What is your verdict, if you believe there was a cover-up?.
3. Why did you choose to respond to this story?
4. How are government and political trust displayed in your clinical setting?
#3 Surgeon Uses Ministry in Medical Practice (Health care and religion) DALLAS–At 83, Carl Smith faced quadruple bypass surgery and the real possibility that he might not survive. Within hours on this spring morning, Dr. Daniel Pool would temporarily bring Smith’s heart to a stop in an attempt to circumvent its blocked passages. And to help his patient confront the uncertainty, Pool did something unusual in his profession: He prayed with him. The power of healing: Medicine and religion have had their day, and they haven’t always been able to coexist. But as today’s medical treatment becomes more holistic, doctors are increasingly taking spirituality into account.
Assignment Discussion Questions
1. Discuss the pressure, if any, placed on the patient to responding to the suggestion of prayer prior to surgery.
2. Describe how you, as the surgeon, or nurse, would address a patient’s religious or spiritual needs if the risks of a complex surgical procedure appear to be threatening.
3. Why did you choose to respond to this story?
4. How is religion or faith displayed in your clinical setting?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The selected news clipping for this essay is #1, which highlights a case of wrong-site surgery and the issues of ethics and integrity within the medical field. The case involves a negligence verdict against Arkansas Children’s Hospital for performing surgery on the wrong side of the brain of a 15-year-old boy, leading to severe brain damage. The hospital faced criticism for not disclosing the error to the parents promptly. This essay will discuss the issues of integrity in this case, consider the potential for criminal charges, explain the reason for selecting this story, and explore how integrity is displayed in a clinical setting.
1. Discuss the issues of integrity in this case:
In this case, integrity is a crucial ethical principle that appears to have been compromised. Integrity entails adhering to a set of moral and ethical principles and being honest, trustworthy, and morally upright. By performing the surgery on the wrong side of the brain, the medical professionals involved violated the fundamental principles of integrity. Their failure to disclose the error to the parents for over a year suggests a lack of transparency and a breach of trust. This lack of integrity raises concerns about the accountability and honesty of the medical professionals involved.
2. Should criminal charges be considered in this case, if accurately reported? Discuss your answer:
Considering the severity of the consequences and the breach of trust, it is essential to assess whether criminal charges should be considered in this case. While this answer cannot address the accuracy of the reported details specifically, it is evident that the patient experienced substantial harm due to medical negligence. In cases where actions deviate significantly from ethical standards and result in severe harm, criminal charges may be warranted. However, it would require a thorough investigation by legal authorities to establish the facts, intent, and levels of negligence before considering criminal charges.
3. Why did you choose to respond to this story?
This story was selected for a response due to its relevance and significance within the medical field. Wrong-site surgery is a serious patient safety issue that can have catastrophic consequences. It sheds light on the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in healthcare settings. Responding to this story helps raise awareness about the ethical challenges faced by medical professionals and the need for continuous improvement to prevent such incidents in the future.
4. How is integrity displayed in your clinical setting?
In a clinical setting, integrity is displayed through various actions and behaviors. Firstly, healthcare professionals must ensure accurate communication with patients and their families regarding diagnoses, treatment options, and potential risks. Transparency and honesty are essential in building trust and maintaining integrity. Secondly, upholding confidentiality and respecting patient privacy are crucial aspects of maintaining integrity. Adhering to ethical standards, such as maintaining professional boundaries and protecting patient information, demonstrates integrity. Lastly, healthcare professionals must continuously strive for self-improvement and professional development to enhance their knowledge, skills, and capabilities, thereby ensuring the highest standards of integrity in clinical practice.
