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Assessment 03 – Applying Ethical Principles
For this assessment, you will develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health
care professional. Before you complete the instructions detailed in the courseroom, first select
one of the ethical dilemmas below to be the focus of your assessment.
After you have selected one of the ethical dilemmas from below, return to the detailed
instructions in the courseroom to complete your assessment.
Case Study: Conscientious Objection and Professional
Responsibility
Nurse Amelia Brooks, a dedicated and experienced nurse at Riverside Medical Center, has
always been known for her commitment to patient care. However, she finds herself in a moral
quandary when Dr. Rebecca Martin, the leading obstetrician at the center, asks her to assist in
an elective abortion procedure for a patient named Sophie Turner, a 24-year-old graduate
student.
Amelia holds strong personal beliefs against abortion due to her religious upbringing. She feels
that participating in the procedure would violate her conscience and deeply held moral
convictions. However, she also recognizes her professional responsibility to provide care
without discrimination and to prioritize the well-being and autonomy of her patients.
The principle of autonomy emphasizes the importance of individual choice and freedom. In this
context, it applies both to Sophie’s right to make decisions about her own body and to Amelia’s
right to act in line with her personal beliefs. The principle of professional responsibility, on the
other hand, underscores Amelia’s duty to provide care and uphold the standards of her
profession. Balancing these principles is the concept of non-maleficence, which emphasizes the
commitment to “do no harm.” Amelia grapples with what “harm” means in this context: harm to
the patient by potentially denying care or harm to herself by violating her conscience.
Case Study: Genetic Testing and Patient Autonomy
Dr. Leonard Harper, a seasoned geneticist at Hillside Medical Center, has always been an
advocate for patient autonomy. One day, he is approached by Mrs. Clara Bennett, a 38-year-old
literature professor, who is expecting her first child. Clara, having heard about the
advancements in prenatal genetic testing, wishes to undergo the procedure to determine if her
unborn child has any genetic disorders. She’s particularly concerned due to her age and a
family history of genetic anomalies.
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After conducting the necessary tests, the results reveal a high likelihood that the child will have
Down syndrome. Dr. Harper schedules a private consultation with Clara to discuss the findings.
During the meeting, Clara, visibly distressed, makes an unexpected request. She asks Dr.
Harper to withhold the results from her husband, Lt. Jack Bennett, a naval officer currently
stationed overseas. Clara fears how Jack, who is eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child,
might react to the news. She’s concerned that it might add undue stress to his already
demanding and dangerous job.
Dr. Harper finds himself in a profound ethical dilemma. On one hand, he respects Clara’s
autonomy and her right to decide when and how the information is shared. On the other hand,
he believes in the importance of open communication, especially in matters that affect family
dynamics and decision-making. He worries about the strain this secret might place on the
Bennetts’ marriage and the potential implications for future medical decisions regarding the
child.
