Concepts of Bioethics and Ethics (Coursework Sample)

Concepts of Bioethics and Ethics Name University Course Number and Name Instructor Due Date Concepts of Bioethics and Ethics Working in the Emergency Department presents a fair share of challenges, particularly when it comes to bioethics. This is because this department is extremely fast-paced and keen on providing the best care in the shortest time possible. Some key ethical issues from working in this department daily include resource allocation, informed consent, and patient confidentiality. The need to allocate resources based on the severity of patient conditions presents an ethical dilemma that can test staff ethics (Husted et al., 2015). Additionally, the need to obtain informed consent from patients who may be unconscious or unable to comprehend the nature of their condition presents a significant challenge. While traditional and modern ethical systems provide guidelines on navigating such a process, they do not make it any easier for medical staff. These challenges are particularly difficult to navigate when considering ethical systems such as utilitarianism. As espoused in the caveman parable by Husted et al. (2015), it is clear that balancing individual and collective needs presents an ethical dilemma. In the Emergency Department, medical staff have to balance the individual needs of patients and the collective needs of the department. Staff have to balance between providing informed consent, for instance, while acting quickly to save patient lives, and sometimes these aspects can be mutually exclusive. Individual rights are critical and cannot be ignored, even in the face of ethical dilemmas that occur in the Emerg...