PHI FPX 3200 Assessment 5 Tonya's Case: Ethics and Professional Codes

Tonya’s Case: Ethics and Professional Codes

This assessment focuses on ethical and professional codes for cases that have end-of-life issues. Every institute has some ethical codes to follow, and the healthcare institute follows some ethical standards to reach decisions of complex nature as well. This assessment will take into consideration the ethical codes for the treatment of Tonya’s life-terminating case. Get PHI FPX 3200 Assessment 5 Tonya’s Case: Ethics and Professional Codes

Ethical and Moral Theories

Ethical value has been debated for a long time in healthcare. Tonya is 15 years old and her case took a sudden turn after an ACL surgery; she had a cardiac arrest attack which led to a complete cessation of brain function. To restore her brain function, she was put on a ventilator. The medical experts realized that it would be impossible to restore her brain function, hence futile to keep her on a ventilator. Experts informed parents with truth and complete information about the situation, but parents refused to take Tonya off the life-support system. 

Hippocrates gave two ethical norms that aimed to help and do no harm (Varkey, 2021). Later, four principles were covered in Principles of Biomedical Ethics. The following are the four principles:

PHI FPX 3200 Assessment 5 Tonya’s Case: Ethics and Professional Codes

• Beneficence 

• Non maleficence 

• Autonomy 

• Justice 

Beneficence refers to the ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals to provide benefits to patients, Nonmaleficence refers to ensure no intentional harm is done to patients. Autonomy takes into consideration that an adult has the right to take a decision, however, in case of the inability of a patient, the authority like family can take a decision. Lastly, the justice principle ensures that every patient gets due attention and support along with confidentiality. 

Tonya’s case is complicated, as her parents have refused to take her off of the ventilator. The healthcare professionals have suggested ceasing her life support because it will not help her resuscitate. The difference of opinion lies while it is benefiting the patient, harming it or whether it is justifiable if any decision is taken opposite the authority’s preference. 

Professional Code of Ethics

The basic code of ethics that determines the course of actions of healthcare professionals is suggested and composed by American Medical Association-they provide the Code of Medical Ethics (Riddick, 2003). The code of medical ethics determines the professional duties of healthcare providers and their suitable behaviors. 

PHI FPX 3200 Assessment 5 Tonya’s Case: Ethics and Professional Codes

Tonya’s case requires that professional experts alleviate the pain of the patient and cause no harm while providing comfort. As per the suggestion, removing Tonya from the ventilator seems a reliable opinion. The autonomous aspect of ethics makes it difficult for professionals to decide against the wish of Tonya’s parents. The problem arises when an organization has to decide whether unnatural life support should be stopped or carried on until the parents desire it. 

Mission and Value Statement

The organization’s mission and value determine the course of action while making decisions. The Saint Anthony Medical Center’s vision is to provide care to all equitably. They aim to foreground the best possible well-being of everyone. They also value support from anyone for smooth medical treatment. They collaborate with different organizations for better healthcare outcomes. Tonya’s case under the hospital’s mission and value empathizes but realize that unnatural life support is no solution. 

Role of Accrediting Bodies

The accrediting body makes sure that the organization is provided with a standard ethical framework to follow. It visits hospitals and sees how well they are providing care. There are four major accrediting agencies in America. The following are those organizations:

• The Joint Commission, 
• Det Norske Veritas Healthcare (DNV)
• Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ)
• Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP). (Kato & Zikos, 2021)

PHI FPX 3200 Assessment 5 Tonya’s Case: Ethics and Professional Codes

Several benefits accrediting organization provides. Some of them are: improving health care, developing community trust, efficient operational processes, decreasing liability insurance concerning different Acts like Affordable Care Act and False Claim Act, etc. It also gives competence advantages along with shared policies and practices. A hospital must get accredited so it can make decisions more efficiently. 

Conclusion

  It is crucial to handle the complicated life-terminating situation while keeping medical and professional codes in mind. Professional healthcare providers must abide by those codes. The medical theory can provide a base for facing such situations so stakeholders’ emotional and logical opinion does not compromise. For further guidelines, any suitable accrediting organization must be approached for better insight and effective outcomes. The organization’s mission or values may align with ethical codes.  

References 

About Us – Saint Anthony Hospital – Chicago. (n.d.). Sahchicago.org. Retrieved January 28, 2023, from

https://sahchicago.org/about-us 

Akdeniz, M., Yardımcı, B., & Kavukcu, E. (2021). Ethical considerations at the end-of-life care. SAGE Open Medicine, 9(9), 205031212110009.

https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211000918 

Harrison, K. L., & Taylor, H. A. (2016). Organizational values in the provision of access to care for the uninsured. AJOB Empirical Bioethics, 7(4), 240–250.

https://doi.org/10.1080/23294515.2016.1170075 

Kato, M., & Zikos, D. (2021). Association between hospital accrediting agencies and hospital outcomes of care in the United States. Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy, 0.

https://doi.org/10.21037/jhmhp-21-24 

NHS. (2013). Ethical principles. Scot.nhs.uk.

https://www.advancedpractice.scot.nhs.uk/law-ethics/ethics/ethical-principles.aspx 

Riddick, F. A. (2003). The code of medical ethics of the American medical association. The Ochsner Journal, 5(2), 6–10.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3399321/ 

Varkey, B. (2021). Principles of clinical ethics and their application to practice. Medical Principles and Practice, 30(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119