Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Decisions

Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Decisions

Health Care Policies and Protocols

An ethical dilemma is bound to set in whenever more than one patient arrives at the hospital with emergency needs. The nurses have to ensure that they are keen in executing tasks quickly so as to weigh priorities in terms of which patient to give treatment first. The nurses must make a decision because usually, the hospital may not have all the resources to handle the patients at the same time. This process is called Triage. In the case of Jeffers and Damascus, many ethical considerations will have to be applied, and the nurses might even have to refer to Emergency Nurses Association Code of Ethics which provides them with a good reference point useful in making the most appropriate decision (Parahoo, 2014). 

Nurses are guided by various policies when handling patients in the emergency room. First, the nurses must maintain high degree of competence. They should also offer sound judgment that protects the lives and privacy of the patients as much as possible. This principle gives the patients equal rights to receive quality healthcare and right of protection. Even though the nurses have to make a decision in favor of one of the above people (Jeffers and Damascus), the decision has to be as sound as possible and the hospital should not neglect any of the patients but should strive to save the lives of both (Sun et al., 2013). Jeffers and Damascus share the right of treatment because, at the emergency department, the nurses should focus on offering healthcare to all people regardless of the background or status of that person.

The nurses must also consider the Principle of Nonmaleficence. This policy directs that the nurses must give quality care to the patients and not do them any harm through negligence or discrimination. The nurses, especially those at the emergency department, should provide care to the patients based on their judgment and ability. The nurses should in no circumstance neglect the patient unless such patient proves impossible to recover or is at the point of death. This principle means that Damascus deserves the right of treatment despite his background which entails criminal history and complicated medical history as well. If Jeffers is given the first priority, it should not be because he has a family and comes from a relatively stable background, but because he meets the health regulation of having a medical cover (Sun et al., 2013). The nurses would also consider the principle of Beneficence. This law requires that the nurses contribute to the wellbeing of the patient. It may involve any affirmative action which targets at improving the condition and status of the patients without discrimination. There are many positive actions which could be undertaken by the nurses to help the two patients. Damascus, for instance, needed help to keep up with the medical requirements…