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7951 Ethics & Law for Health Professionals
2021 Semester 1
Assignment Case Na
ative
Due Friday 16 April 2021, 10AM
Healthcare is a moral and collective endeavor shaped by legislation and common law that
shape practice. Ethical work in healthcare is
oader in scope than care or treatment
decisions. Managerial or political decisions, lifestyle choice, and sharing of risk also raise
ethical issues. When alliances
eakdown between patients and healthcare professionals or
among disciplines in the team, divisions can develop and distrust and feelings of betrayal
may have damaging effects far beyond the immediate circle of people involved (Wintrup,
Biggs, Brannelly, Fenwick & Ingham, XXXXXXXXXXSuccessful healthcare relies on many
negotiations and compromises and the privacy of the conversations between individuals is
protected by law. The impression of ethical practice can be shaped by the ‘out of the
ordinary’, complex and sometimes extreme cases, and these are often shared by the
mainstream and social media.
The goal of this assessment is to recognise and become attuned to the legal requirements
and moral/ethical aspects of everyday care and to consider your role as a healthcare
student and future healthcare professional. The focus is on the application of legal
principles, moral/ethical theory and ethical healthcare practice. Moral justification is
important in moral decision making. Apply legal principles, ethical principles, moral theory,
virtue ethics, and an ethic of care to frame your answers.
After you have read the above passage, choose three (3) of the case na
atives from the
five (5) below and answer the co
esponding questions for the na
atives you have
chosen. Each answer should be XXXXXXXXXXincludes intext references) words in length and
the usual guidelines for academic writing and referencing apply. There is a scenario
provided for each question and your task is evaluate and discuss your answer in relation
to the related scenario, relevant legal and ethical concepts.
The choice of which three na
atives is up to you. You can see that the na
atives are from
the health receiver perspective and are all focused on ethical and legal practice. These
na
atives may apply to a multitude of professional health disciplines including
physiotherapy, nursing, medicine, pharmacy, psychology and counselling, to
7951 Ethics & Law for Health Professionals
2021 Semester 1
accommodate your ability to consider the legal and ethical principles related to your own
discipline.
You are required to submit this assessment via the assignment box on this units Canvas
page. It is encouraged that you submit to the draft submission section first to receive and
URKUND report for text matching. This may take 24-48 hours for a report, so it is best to
e well prepared.
ONE
A young man living in a remote community receives burns to his lower leg. He is flown by air
ambulance to the city and is treated in the burns unit. Following a period of rehabilitation,
he returns to the community with two pressure garments, the standard allocation per client,
to be worn for scar management. The visiting health team conducted a follow up
assessment four (4) weeks after his return. He had stopped wearing the pressure garments
after two (2) weeks as the elasticity had deteriorated because he does not wear shoes. The
pressure garments are not wearable.
QUESTION ONE (1): Identify and discuss the ethical issues in this case using the ‘four
principles approach’ that is; acting for the good of individuals and society (beneficence),
efraining from harming others (non-maleficence), being fair (justice), and allowing others
to make decisions and act according to their own wishes (autonomy). Give reasons for
your answers.
7951 Ethics & Law for Health Professionals
2021 Semester 1
TWO
Tara, a 15-year-old girl approaches a health professional and seeks assurance from the
health professional that her conversation will be kept confidential. The health professional
assures her that unless there are compelling reasons ie. that the public will be at risk of
harm, that the conversation would be confidential. Tara proceeds with her request for the
‘morning after’ pill as she is concerned that after having unprotected sex with her boyfriend
that she may be pregnant. Tara is not taking regular oral contraceptives. She reveals that
she has tried to discuss her sexual health with the family GP however, the GP was not
supportive of her interest in being sexually active with her boyfriend. Tara shares that her
parents (who access the same health service) ‘don’t believe in premarital sex’, hence her
seeking reassurance about confidentiality. Tara further states that her parents would be
‘disgusted’ if they found out she was seeking the morning after pill and would disown
her. Tara has researched social media and online materials and has determined that there
are no negative short (apart from a potential headache) or long-term health consequences
for her if she takes the pill. She tells the health professional that ‘one of her friends has had
the morning after pill and she was fine’, and she wants to have it too, just in case.
QUESTION TWO (2): Understanding that it is within the health professional’s scope of
practice to supply the ‘morning after’ pill, identify the legal and ethical principles raised in
this case. Discuss multiple perspectives for consideration in this case. Give reasons for
your answers.
7951 Ethics & Law for Health Professionals
2021 Semester 1
THREE
The manager of the midwifery-led Continuity of Care Program (Continuity) at the local
public hospital has capacity for one more woman in the cu
ent case load. Continuity
supports women throughout their pregnancy and birth journey with a focus on achieving
normal birth. Each woman in Continuity is supported by one dedicated midwife to provide a
continuity of service and support. Research suggests that continuity midwifery is the
preferable model of care resulting in better outcomes for women and babies when
compared to other models (Sandall, Soltani, Gates, Shennan & Devane, XXXXXXXXXXThe manager
has one position in the Continuity of Care Program to offer and three eligible women (all 14
weeks pregnant) on the waiting list; the other two women will be refe
ed to the public
antenatal program.
Ashley is 19 years old and has a 2 year old son, her first pregnancy and birth were
uncomplicated. She cu
ently does not have a partner, but her elderly grandparents are very
supportive. She lives with her grandparents as she does not have stable housing or
employment. Ashley is moderately overweight, otherwise she is physically well, she is a
social smoker and suffers from anxiety and depression for which she takes regular
medications. Ashley takes casual hospitality shifts when she is able to get her grandparents
to care for her toddler, she also receives government financial support.
Mirka is 28, she immigrated to Australia 6 years ago with her family. Mirka is multilingual,
with English being her third language, her English is still developing. She and her partner
Catherine are expecting their first baby after successful artificial insemination using
anonymous donor sperm. Both expectant parents work full time, with Catherine in an
executive role; Catherine plans to be a stay at home parent while Mirka returns to work after
her maternity leave. Mirka’s family are not supportive of her ‘lifestyle’ choice ie. being in a
lesbian relationship, and they are certainly not planning to have any involvement with the
aby; the couple have no local family support. Mirka has been experiencing significant
morning sickness, she also has diabetes (diagnosed at 6yrs of age) which requires insulin, but
she is otherwise well.
7951 Ethics & Law for Health Professionals
2021 Semester 1
Deb is a 38 yr old Ngunnawal woman. Deb had one pregnancy terminated in her early 20’s,
and since being ma
ied has had multiple misca
iages in the last 8 years, this is the first
pregnancy that has reached the second trimester. Deb has a supportive husband, and 3 older
step children. Deb is nervous about her pregnancy given her obstetric history, but she is
hopeful that this pregnancy will progress to full term. Deb is following all of the
ecommendations regarding prenatal preparation, supplements, diet restrictions and
prenatal yoga. Deb is an exsmoker, she has had a knee reconstruction from a sporting injury
and has a history of endometriosis but otherwise is fit and well. Deb works full time in public
administration, her husband is a small business owner.
QUESTION THREE (3): Which one (1) of the women should the manager invite onto the
Continuity of Care Program? Consider your answer in doing the ‘greatest good’ using
ethical theory (not just principles) to craft your response.
7951 Ethics & Law for Health Professionals
2021 Semester 1
Four
Two critically ill patients present to hospital, both suffering with COVID – 19. There is only
one ventilator, and both patients are likely to die if they do not receive support from the
ventilator. Justin is a 39-year-old painter who is single and lives alone, he has a history of
mild asthma and epilepsy for which he takes medication. Justin has been unwell for nearly a
week, his condition is poor, doctors are predicting that he has a less than 50% chance of
surviving and will need at least 3 weeks on the ventilator. Mara is 70 and is a part time
primary school teacher, she also cares for her 2 preschool aged grandchildren two days per
week, so that their mother can work. Mara has osteoarthritis and mild depression, she has
een unwell for 4 days, but has deteriorated significantly today. Doctors predict that Mara
has a more than 50% chance of survival and will require up to a week on the ventilator.
QUESTION FOUR (4): Use ethical/moral reasoning to guide your decision making on who
should receive the ventilator.
7951 Ethics & Law for Health Professionals
2021 Semester 1
Five
Ha
y is a 57-year-old man who has been diagnosed 12 months ago with Motor Neurone
Disease. After discussions with his family, neurologist and GP Ha
y completed a Health
Direction 6 months ago which clearly states that if his health deteriorates that he does not
want specific treatments such as physiotherapy, antibiotic therapy and admission to
intensive care that prolongs his life. Over the last couple of days Ha
y has developed a
chesty cough, rattily
eathing indicating a chest infection, this morning his wife