PSYC FPX 4100 Assessment 2: Applying Ethical Principles | Capella Guide

Applying Ethical Principles in Advanced Clinical Practice

Introduction to Advanced Ethical Decision-Making

Applying Ethical Principles is the most important way for both the psychologist and the nurse to protect themselves and their patients. As professionals progress in their careers, the challenges they encounter grow more intricate, frequently entailing conflicting legal and ethical responsibilities. This paper examines a case study of a terminally ill patient seeking physician-assisted suicide in a jurisdiction where it is not legally sanctioned, highlighting the tension between the patient’s right to self-determination and the professional’s obligation to adhere to legal statutes.

Ethical Dilemma Identification: Autonomy vs. Legal Constraints

The main disagreement in this case is between Autonomy and Non-maleficence. The patient, in excruciating pain, desires to terminate their life, claiming their right to bodily autonomy. But the practitioner is not allowed to help someone kill themselves because of state law and professional codes. When applying ethical principles in this situation, the professional must decide if “doing no harm” means keeping a patient alive against their will or following a request that has legal consequences.

Applying Ethical Principles: The Pillars of Bioethics

The analysis is guided by the four pillars of bioethics:

• Autonomy: The patient’s right to choose their own end-of-life path.
• Beneficence: The duty to provide comfort and alleviate suffering.
• Non-maleficence: The duty to avoid causing death or participating in illegal acts.
• Justice: Ensuring the patient receives equitable care and that the practitioner remains within the bounds of social and legal justice.

Comparison of Ethical Theories: Theoretical Perspectives

A sophisticated approach to Applying Ethical Principles requires a comparison of normative theories:

1. Utilitarianism (Teleological Theory)

A Utilitarian perspective focuses on the outcome. If the patient’s continued existence results in a “net loss” of happiness due to extreme suffering, a utilitarian might argue for the patient’s right to die. However, they must also consider the “negative utility” of the legal risk to the practitioner and the potential loss of trust in the healthcare system if laws are ignored.

2. Deontology (Duty-Based Theory)

A Deontological approach, rooted in the Kantian Categorical Imperative, argues that certain actions are fundamentally wrong. If “preserving life” is a universal duty for healthcare providers, then assisting in death is ethically impermissible, regardless of the patient’s pain. The focus is on the practitioner’s duty to the law and the profession’s inherent rules.

Proposed Resolution and Justification

The suggested solution uses a “Ethical Mediation” method. The practitioner should use ethical principles and a palliative care perspective to help the patient move to an ethics committee and make the most of pain management protocols (the “Principle of Double Effect”). This allows for the alleviation of suffering (Beneficence) without breaking the law against assisted suicide (Non-maleficence). APA Standard 1.02 talks about conflicts between ethics and law and tells practitioners to minimize the conflict while following the highest ethical standards. This is why this resolution is correct.

PSYC 4100 Assessment 2: Evaluation of Professional Responsibilities

The act of Applying Ethical Principles requires the practitioner to set aside personal moral convictions in favor of professional standards. In this case, while the practitioner may personally sympathize with the patient, their professional responsibility is to maintain the integrity of the healthcare system by providing the best possible care within legal boundaries.