PSYC FPX 4210 assessment 4: Applying Ethical Principles | Final Capella Guide

Applying Ethical Principles in Complex Clinical Environments

PSYC FPX 4210 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 an adolescent patient with a terminal illness who declines further treatment contrary to parental wishes, investigating the intersections of minor consent, parental rights, and fundamental principles of bioethics.

Identification of Multi-Stakeholder Ethical Dilemmas

The main problem in this situation is that Autonomy (the teen’s growing independence) and Beneficence (the parents’ wish to keep their child alive) are at odds with each other. When applying ethical principles to this case, we must also take into account the Justice aspect: When does a minor’s choice take precedence over a guardian’s legal authority? This isn’t just a legal problem; it’s also a deep moral conflict between the duty to protect life and the duty to honor a person’s dignity and choice.

Applying Ethical Principles: The Bioethical Framework

The four pillars provide the necessary structure for resolution:

• Autonomy: Evaluating the “Mature Minor Doctrine” and the patient’s capacity to understand the consequences of refusing treatment.
• Beneficence: The practitioner’s duty to provide care that benefits the patient, which may include palliative care rather than aggressive, futile interventions.
• Non-maleficence: Avoiding the physical and psychological harm caused by forcing a terminal patient to undergo painful treatments against their will.
• Justice: Ensuring that the minor is treated as a person with rights, rather than merely a subject of parental control.

Comparison of Ethical Theories: Theoretical Justification

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

1. Deontology (Duty-Based Ethics)

A Deontologist, following Immanuel Kant, would argue that the practitioner has a “perfect duty” to respect the individual’s autonomy if the minor is deemed competent. If the universal rule is to “treat people as ends in themselves,” then the patient’s refusal of treatment must be honored, regardless of the parents’ distress or the eventual outcome. The focus is on the morality of respecting the human spirit’s self-determination.

2. Utilitarianism (Consequence-Based Ethics)

A Utilitarian would look at the “Greatest Good for the Greatest Number.” They would weigh the long-term suffering of the patient against the emotional trauma of the parents. While saving the child might seem like a positive outcome, a “Rule Utilitarian” would argue that forcing treatment on a competent individual—even a minor—sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the trust between the public and the medical profession.

Proposed Resolution and Justification

The suggested solution uses a “Sequential Decision-Making” model. The practitioner should first help an ethics committee review the case to find out how mature the patient is by using ethical principles. If the patient is determined to be a “mature minor,” their refusal of treatment should be respected. The APA Standard 3.10, which talks about informed consent for people who can’t legally give it, backs up this decision. It stresses the importance of “assent.” This path puts Non-maleficence first by stopping the patient from suffering more uselessly, and Autonomy by listening to what the patient has to say.

Conclusion and Professional Identity

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.