NHS FPX 4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles NHS-FPX 4000 Developing a Health Care Perspective

Prof. Name:

Date

Applying Ethical Principles

Healthcare professionals, in any role within the field, must use ethical principles and values as the foundation for their clinical decisions. These principles include autonomy, informed consent, beneficence, non-maleficence, fairness, and justice. In this assessment, an ethical case study is analyzed, and a possible solution is proposed using an ethical decision-making model. This assessment will help us understand the moral values of healthcare and prepare a ground for further moral decision-making. 

Overview of the Case Study

The case study is about a patient, Mr Alex Turner, 35 years old, who has been suffering from depression and anxiety for about six months. He is under the care of a clinical psychologist, Dr. Laura Simmons. Alex and Dr. Simmons have had a trustworthy relationship where the healthcare professional has always encouraged open communication. Because of this encouragement, Alex openly and honestly shares his deepest thoughts with Dr. Simmons. In one fine session, Alex shared his comprehensive plans and thoughts of harming his colleague with whom he has several personal and professional divergences. 

Facts of the Case Study 

This situation has led Dr. Simmons to encounter an ethical dilemma between patient confidentiality and beneficence/non-maleficence as crucial ethical principles in healthcare ethics. Confidentiality, critical to the patient-provider relationship, requires her to keep Alex’s thoughts private without sharing them with others. At the same time, beneficence/non-maleficence compels her to prevent harm to Alex and the people surrounding him. This circumstance is not only affecting the doctor but has a significant impact on Alex and his colleague, who is unaware of Alex’s plans. Along with the dispute between confidentiality and beneficence, the lack of appropriate guidelines for revealing information makes it difficult for psychologists and other healthcare professionals to decide when and how to disclose confidential information. An integrative review by Conlon et al. (2019) supports this analysis by presenting that disclosing patients’ confidential information is essential when a risk of harm is being assessed to protect patients and the people around them. This risk can be for self-harm or homicidal. However, an appropriate method of information disclosure is required to avoid violating the principle of confidentiality. Another literature review mentions that psychologists or mental health practitioners face several challenges related to the sharing of information when they foresee a risk of violence. In such situations, understating the risk behaviors and making appropriate adjustments in mental health practices can assist professionals in combating the challenges.

Nevertheless, the primary goal should be preventing harm and protecting the client and their surroundings (Brooks, 2021). These peer-reviewed journal articles are credible and relevant as they are published in authorized journals, and the authors of the articles are well-versed in the mental health domain. The articles briefly present the study’s claims and limitations while mentioning the requirements for future studies. It is relevant because the articles are about the disclosure of confidential information and how sharing of information by mental health professionals is vital to protect the risk of violence, which is directly related to our case study. Thus, these sources can be used to develop a solution for Alex and Dr. Simmons’ case study.  

Effective Communication Approach Used in the Case Study

The communication approaches in the case study are open and honest communication and active listening. Dr. Simmons has developed a therapeutic relationship with her patient using open and honest communication. This method of communication is effective in building rapport with the patients and gaining their trust. A study uncovered that communication in an effective way is essential for building trust and delivering patient-centered care (Asan et al., 2021). In the case study, Alex was encouraged to discuss his thoughts on homicide through open, direct, and honest communication. Another effective communication approach is active listening. Dr. Simmons actively listens to Alex, demonstrating empathy and understanding. Ricks and Brannon (2023) emphasize that active listening is a ground skill that assists mental health practitioners in building effective relationships with patients and engaging them in conversation. This approach enables patients to share their feelings, thoughts, and experiences with the providers and gives providers a sense of understanding and paraphrasing their client’s message