Ethical Dilemma Essay

Submitted By tjas2005
Words: 352
Pages: 2

ETHICAL DILEMMA
Stacy Douglas
HCS/478 Health Law and Ethics
University of Phoenix GA10BSN02
James Mopsikoff, MBA
April 25, 2011

THE ALLEN FAMILY


Clifford – Father, married for 40 years, has one son with
Downs Syndrome. Has begun having issues with depression and drinking since his wife’s diagnosis of cancer. 

Pam – A mother, married to Clifford, has recently been diagnosed with cancer and will undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments.



Gary – A 24 year old male with Downs Syndrome. Lives wit his parents Cliff and Pam and works at the local grocery store.

BEING AN “ETHICAL” INDIVIDUAL


Ethics: the branch of philosophy concerned with evaluating human action. Derived from the
Greek word “ethos,” meaning character, customs, or habitual uses, ethics encompasses a process of determining right conduct from wrong
(Guido, 2010).

ETHICAL DILEMMA


Clifford


Not being ethical to his employer by not revealing the fact that his wife is very sick.



Non-productive at work.



May lead to misconceptions at work about his behavior and appearance.



Clifford


Distancing himself from his wife.



Has began to drink alcohol on a regular basis



Stopped doing the normal routine’s with his son. PAMELA’S ETHICAL PRINCIPLES


Autonomy: addresses personal freedom and self-determination—the right to choose what will happen to one’s own person
(Guido, 2010).





Pamela made the decision to undergo the treatment prescribed by her Doctor, knowing the strain it could pose to her