Ethical Dilemma Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethical Dilemma Assignment - Essay ExampleEthical decisions may present themselves that can run the risk of ruining a c wholeing or creating a poor patient outcome. These decisions must be made carefully and thoughtfully, and with introspection and deliberation. Making the honest decision is a process of self-reflection and face-to-face integrity. This paper leave define an ethical dilemma and explore the decision making process used to arrive at a decision where all the options have significant consequences.As a health care worker, friends occasionally confront me that need medical care and require a prescription drug. They will occasionally request that I write the prescription without contriveing the patient, which is in violation of common medical ethics and sound medical practice. They may additionally ask me to write the prescription for a third party that has indemnification in an effort to eliminate the cost of the drug. In addition to violating medical ethics, this e xcessively has the legal liability of being against the law. Adding to the ethical dilemma is the reality that they often do not have the money for their expensive medications, and using someone elses insurance may be the only option they have to acquire them. I am similarly familiar with their case and know the patients, and they perceive the demand to see them in the shoes as simply medical over-kill. These factors impact my decision making process, as I am empathetic to their financial needs and sympathize with their feelings regarding the office visit. I need to make a decision that will consider my friends and our relationship, their physical and emotional health, as well as my career and personal integrity.thither are myriad sides to this dilemma and numerous aspects that need to be evaluated. I need to weigh the importance, and definition, of our friendship and how that might be impacted by my refusal to survey with their requests. I also need to examine the fact that I mi ght be able to significantly help these people by doing a minimal amount of harm. The professional ethical guidelines that I uphold have a high value to me, and violating them reduces my own sense of self-worth. In addition, I could risk losing my license, my practice, my career, and my livelihood. I need to be sure that these risks are real, and not simply defense mechanisms that I am using to deny my friends requests. These are the factors that need to be weighed into a reasonable and balanced decision that I can live with. The decision making process begins by defining the dilemma and ends with taking action. The process also includes consulting professional guidelines, considering all the options that are available, consulting colleagues, and evaluating the potential outcome of each alternative (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008, pp. 22-23). Every decision we make has consequences and when making a decision we need to be able to accept and endure the cost of that decision. I believ e in the theory of virtue in regards to ethics and believe that our actions should adhere to the principle that what is ethical is what dilates moral virtues in ourselves and our communities (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, Meyer & Meyer, 2008). Unlike the utilitarian, I dont compare the potential good against the possible harm and see which outweighs the other. I simply must see if my actions develop my sense of moral virtue. I