Assessment Description
The four principles of biomedical ethics, especially in the context of bioethics in the United States, have often been critiqued for raising the principle of autonomy to the highest place, such that it trumps all other principles or values. Based on your worldview, how do you rank the importance of each of the four principles in order to protect the health and safety of diverse populations?
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to the “Discussion Question Rubric” and “Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
This assignment aligns with AACN Core Competencies: 3.1
Sample Solution
Respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice are the four guiding principles of biomedical ethics, and they all play important roles in protecting the health and safety of diverse populations. However, to resolve difficult moral conundrums and advance equitable healthcare, I think a balanced approach is required.
Upholding individual dignity and giving people the ability to take charge of their health are dependent on the idea of autonomy, which recognizes their right to make educated decisions about their healthcare. However, as autonomy may contradict other significant values like beneficence and non-maleficence, it shouldn’t be viewed as absolute (Pursio et al., 2021). For example, when a patient’s autonomy decisions could seriously jeopardize their health or safety, medical professionals might have to step in to safeguard the patient’s best interests.
Another fundamental tenet of biomedical ethics is beneficence, or the idea of advancing the welfare of others. Healthcare professionals must treat patients in a way that enhances their health. This idea also applies to safeguarding vulnerable groups and making sure they have access to necessary medical care. However, as overzealous interventions can also be harmful, beneficence and non-maleficence should be balanced.
In the medical field, the concept of non-maleficence—or preventing harm—is crucial. Healthcare professionals must reduce the possibility of injury to their patients and take action to stop or lessen suffering (Oshodi et al., 2019). This idea is especially crucial when thinking about novel therapies or interventions that can have unidentified or potentially hazardous side effects.
Ensuring fair and equitable treatment, or justice, is a fundamental premise in eliminating health inequities and advancing universal access to high-quality healthcare. Healthcare systems must be set up in a way that guarantees equitable resource distribution and the availability of necessary care for marginalized populations. To do this, it is frequently necessary to address the socioeconomic determinants of health disparities.
Achieving a balance between these principles becomes considerably more difficult in the presence of varied people (Swope & Hernández, 2019). The concepts of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice might be interpreted differently by different people due to cultural and social influences. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of these variations and adjust their treatment to the particular needs of each patient. Although individual liberty is a vital ideal, it shouldn’t be prioritized to the point where it takes precedence over other significant values like beneficence and non-maleficence. To ensure the health and safety of various groups, a well-rounded strategy that takes into account the requirements of individual patients, vulnerable communities, and society at large is imperative.
References
Pursio, K., Kankkunen, P., Sanner‐Stiehr, E., & Kvist, T. (2021). Professional autonomy in nursing: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(6), 1565-1577.
Oshodi, T. O., Bruneau, B., Crockett, R., Kinchington, F., Nayar, S., & West, E. (2019). Registered nurses’ perceptions and experiences of autonomy: a descriptive phenomenological study. BMC nursing, 18, 1-14.
Swope, C. B., & Hernández, D. (2019). Housing as a determinant of health equity: A conceptual model. Social Science & Medicine, 243, 112571.
Assessment Description
According to the four parts of the Christian biblical narrative (i.e., creation, fall, redemption, and restoration) that informs us about the nature of God, where would you find comfort and hope in the midst of sickness and disease?
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to the “Discussion Question Rubric” and “Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Sample Solution
The four stages of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration found in the Christian biblical story provide a framework for seeking solace and hope amid illness and suffering. Hope and fortitude in the face of hardship are rooted in the conviction that there is a kind and merciful God who endowed people and the planet with intrinsic value and dignity. Even in the face of physical limits or illness, the concept that we are made in God’s image (imago Dei) emphasizes our worth and potential (Chiareli, 2019). The idea of the fall, which tells the tale of how sin caused humanity to fall from God, admits that there is sorrow and imperfection in the world. It also presents the idea of redemption, which is the conviction that God’s kindness and love can mend our relationship with Him and bring about healing.
The salvation of humanity via the sacrifice of Christ is the main message of Christianity. This idea provides consolation to individuals dealing with illness or disease by reassuring them that God is aware of their suffering and actively participates in their recovery process. The desire for a day when pain and illness will no longer exist is expressed in the Christian biblical story’s last chapter, restoration (Klein & Klein, np). This conviction gives us perspective by serving as a reminder that our present difficulties are transitory and that we are eventually a part of a greater scheme for atonement and restoration.
When we consider God’s love and creation, we might find solace and hope in the Christian biblical story during times of illness and suffering. We might find comfort and strength in reminding ourselves of God’s love for us and our role in His creation. Building a relationship with God: We can deepen our relationship with God and find solace in trying times by engaging in spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, and seeking spiritual direction (Milton, 2020). Stressing the importance of redemption: We can have hope for recovery and restoration when we keep in mind that God is a redeemer and healer. Putting our present struggles in a broader perspective can be achieved by reminding ourselves of the eternal essence of our life.
The Christian biblical narrative offers a profound and enduring source of comfort and hope in the face of sickness and disease. By embracing God’s love, seeking redemption, and focusing on the promise of restoration, we can navigate challenges with strength, resilience, and faith.
References
Chiareli, A. A. (2019). Constructing a” Christian Sociological Re-Imagination:” Creation, Fall, and Redemption as a Unifying Analytical Framework. Journal of Sociology and Christianity, 9(1), 27-47.
Klein, Z., & Klein, H. Effects of the Fall on the Physical Creation: A Biblical Analysis.
Milton, G. (2020). Participating in the story where earth and heaven meet. The Routledge Handbook of Pentecostal Theology.
Assessment Description
This assignment will incorporate a common practical tool in helping clinicians begin to ethically analyze a case. Organizing the data by means of the four boxes approach to analyze the case will help you apply the four principles (beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice).
Based on the reading of the “Case Study: Healing and Autonomy” and topic Resources, you will complete the “Applying the Four Principles: Case Study” document by including the following:
Part 1: Chart
This chart will formalize the application of the four boxes approach by organizing the data from the case study according to the relevant principles of biomedical ethics: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.
Part 2: Evaluation
This part includes questions, to be answered in a maximum of 500 words, that evaluate how the four principles approach would be applied according to the Christian worldview.
Support your response using only Chapter 3 from the textbook Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian Values and Decision-Making in Health Care and the Topic 3 Resource “Rising to ‘The Highest Morals’ -The Rich History of Nursing Ethics.”
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.