Case Study Analysis †Chapter 6 Essay Example

Case Study Analysis – Chapter 6 Essay Example Case Study Analysis – Chapter 6 Essay Case Study Analysis – Chapter 6 Essay Case Study Analysis – Chapter 6 Name: Institution: Date: Case Study Analysis – Chapter 6 This chapter deals with the need for healthcare professionals to monitor and police themselves, to ensure that they are following the ethical policies and procedures they have established. The chapter highlights some of the reasons that cause ethical problems within health institutions, and among healthcare professionals. It looks at the role that health institutions and health professionals have in maintaining quality in the provision of healthcare. It deals with the issue of whistle blowers, who often come from among the professionals. The chapter identifies ways that a person can go about solving an ethical problem, before resulting to denouncing the issue publicly. Hospitals should formulate policies that will take care of the health professionals working at the institution by ensuring that they do not have to work under unfavorable and compromising conditions, while at the same time protect the mission of the institution The chapter highlights and discusses some ethical problem s. Healthcare institutions have to make difficult decisions in the course of their operations. They have to ensure that they provide affordable healthcare, remain profitable, compete with others in the market, and at the same time ensure that they provide quality healthcare to the patients. This can present ethical problems, as the professionals strive to create a balance. Another ethical problem is that the board or the hospital administrators have to find the right ways of dealing with professionals who have ethical problems, yet these professionals have a lot of influence to the organization. The other ethical problem presented concerns the issue of staffing. In an aim to reduce costs in the hospital, the administrators may sometimes feel the need of employing unlicensed personnel to the posts of nurses, and they will fire registered nurses. The registered nurses earn more than the unlicensed nurses do. When the administration takes such an action, it will mean that the registere d nurse may have to take on the responsibility of being a supervisor, to people who are not qualified for the position. Mrs. Lewis acted correctly when she reported the matter. She gathered the evidence required to present her case, before making her allegations. This particular case did not require her to follow any chain of command, since she was not dealing with issues related to her hospital directly. She followed the requirements of the state laws, which were to report any such incidences to the Welfare Bureau of Inspection. Had Mrs. Lewis not been able to afford a lawyer, she would have gone through the chain of command, and in this case, she would have talked to the director of nursing and told her about the situation with the administrator. Together, they would have found a solution to their problem. Whistle blowers can protect themselves by being anonymous. Power is an important consideration when dealing with health care ethics. Many health care institutions are concerned with ensuring that they remain reputable within the industry. Because of this, they appoint different boards to deal with emerging problems at the hospitals. They expect a person with a complaint to take it to the relevant people in the hospital, and deal with the problem in-house, ensuring that the institution retains its image. The various boards have the power to deal with these problems before they escalate and cause other problems to the institutions. The motive that the whistle blower has can change the nature of whistle blowing. Some people might decide to denounce an institution or a colleague publicly, without consulting or reporting the matter to the relevant people in the institution. This may be as a way of seeking revenge for something, or as a way of seeking financial compensation. The whistle blower might not even be interested in the patients’ conditions. I do not think that 10% is a fair reward, considering the risks that the whistle blower is taking. By blow ing the whistle, the accuser faces the risk of retaliation, which may come from the accused or his or her colleagues. The colleagues may shun the accusers and scorn them. They may treat the accusers with indifferences since they feel that the accusers have betrayed them. The administration may also retaliate in terms of creating unfavorable conditions for the accuser to work, such as giving the accuser tough working shifts. In addition, the accuser may face countercharges, and he or she ends up using a lot of money in defense. Response to part 3 Many nurses would like to act ethically, and they would want to report incidences of illegal practices. The nurses should be confident in their employers, and they should trust them to make the right decision. They can make their case stronger, if they had the means to gather evidence, which they can then present to the board, their employers, and any other relevant authorities. Many people want to act ethically, and only a few people are involved in unethical practices. The more many people are aware of the illegal practices in the institution, the more the board or the governing body of the institution will be forced to act on the cases. Reference: Garrett, T. M., Baillie, H. W., Garrett, R. M. (2010). Health care ethics: Principles and problems. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.