By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
- Competency 1: Assess personal bias within ethical dilemmas.
- Assess whether the situation was handled correctly by health professionals while taking into account personal bias.
- Competency 2: Analyze key ethical concerns commonly presented in health care.
- Analyze an ethical theory or theories demonstrated in the case.
- Analyze theories that were violated and why.
- Analyze theoretical aspects of organizational policy.
- Competency 3: Evaluate biomedical concerns that ethically impact patient and family health services.
- Assess how the patient’s best interests were met or not met.
Assessment Instructions:
Review the following case and identify which ethical theory is in place. Provide your impression by responding to the questions below. Write at least 3 to 5 pages of commentary, with supporting references in APA format.
- Which ethical theory or theories are demonstrated in this case? Were the patient’s best interests met? Why or why not?
- What theories were violated and why? Was this situation handled correctly by health professionals? Take into account any personal bias? What should have been done differently and why?
- What theoretical aspects of this case impact the organization?
- Which theories were not applicable and why?
Case Analysis on Ethical Theory
“Oscar Ramirez, a 55-year-old patient of Mexican descent, presented with a large growth in his throat. He was told that the growth was cancerous. Mr. Ramirez was also told that he would need to have the tumor removed and start an aggressive round of chemotherapy. Mr. Ramirez agreed to the proposed treatment. However, Ramirez’s wife and children told the oncologist that complete truthfulness would devastate him and that it was their duty to protect him. They supported this claim by saying that their background required that “la familia” take this protective role. They added that their culture does not place the same value on the individual’s control of his own life that most Americans do.
Thus, when the tumor could not be completely removed, Mr. Ramirez was merely told that his recovery would be lengthy and that much treatment would be needed to keep the cancer from recurring. Because of great skill in deception and a tightly orchestrated effort to conceal the truth, Oscar Ramirez died without ever being told of his terminal illness” (Levine, 2007, p. 35).
Submission Requirements:
- Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- APA formatting: Your paper should be formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
- Length: 3–5 typed and double-spaced pages.
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
- Research: Use a minimum of six credible sources. Refer to the Research Resources in the left navigation menu for help finding credible sources.
Refer to the Theoretical Ethics in Health Care Assessment Scoring Guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assessment.
You are required to submit your assessment to the Turnitin source matching tool. Refer to the FlexPath instructions on the Turnitin iGuide page, linked in the Assessment Resources.
Submit your assessment for faculty evaluation by clicking the linked assessment title in the assessment link below. Be sure to include the corresponding Turnitin report with your assessment.
Reference
Levine, C. (2007). Taking sides: Clashing views on bioethical issues (12th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
