PSYC FPX 4110 Assessment 4: Applying Ethical Principles | Final Capella Guide

PSYC FPX 4110 Assessment 4: Introduction to Summative Ethical Practice

As students finish their professional psychology and nursing education, Applying Ethical Principles goes from being a theoretical exercise to being a clinical necessity. In a healthcare system that is becoming more automated and bureaucratic, practitioners are often the last line of defense for patients’ rights. This evaluation analyzes a multifaceted case study concerning a surrogate mother desiring to retain a child after a breach of contract by the intended parents, investigating the intersections of contract law, parental rights, and fundamental principles of bioethics.

Identification of Multi-Stakeholder Ethical Dilemmas

The main problem in this case is that Fidelity (keeping a signed contract) and Autonomy (the surrogate’s right to her bodily integrity and maternal agency) are at odds with each other. When we use ethical principles to look at this case, we also need to think about the Justice part: Who is looking out for the child’s best interests? This isn’t just a legal problem; it’s also a deep moral struggle between the importance of keeping a promise and the rights of a biological and gestational mother.

Applying Ethical Principles: The Bioethical Framework

The four pillars provide the necessary structure for resolution:

• Autonomy: The surrogate’s right to choose what happens to her unborn child versus the rights of the intended parents as set out in the contract.
• Beneficence: Figuring out which outcome will give the child the most stable and loving environment to grow up in.
• Non-maleficence: Keeping both the mother and the baby from going through the mental trauma that comes with being forced to be apart.
• Justice: Making sure that the surrogate isn’t taken advantage of because of differences in their socioeconomic status.

Comparison of Ethical Theories: Theoretical Justification

A critical requirement of Applying Ethical Principles is the application of normative ethics:

1. Deontology (Duty-Based Ethics)

A Deontologist, following Immanuel Kant, would argue that “keeping a promise” (the contract) is a categorical imperative. If the surrogate signed a contract, she has a perfect duty to fulfill it. Breaking the contract would be considered inherently wrong, regardless of her emotional state, because a society where contracts are routinely broken cannot function.

2. Utilitarianism (Consequence-Based Ethics)

A Utilitarian would consider the “Greatest Good for the Greatest Number.” They would compare the surrogate’s immediate pain to the long-term happiness of the intended parents, who may not have any other way to become parents. But they also need to think about the “negative utility” of setting a precedent where people are treated like contractual goods, which could hurt people’s trust in reproductive medicine.

Proposed Resolution and Justification

The suggested solution starts with “Mediation-First” and then focuses on the child’s well-being as the main moral guide. By using ethical principles, the practitioner should help an ethics committee review that goes beyond the contract to look at how stable all parties are right now. The resolution supports a situation in which the surrogate keeps custody if the intended parents have seriously broken their support obligations, because this is in the best interest of the child. APA Standard 3.04 says that psychologists must take reasonable steps to protect the people they work with from harm.

Final Thoughts 

Using ethical principles in the final assessment is a way to show that you can handle the weight of your professional duties. It takes a mix of empathy and clinical logic to make sure that the rules are always applied with a human touch. These principles will always be our main guide for a career of honesty as we move into full practice.