Content area
Full text
Most individuals view ethics in healthcare as reserved only for dramatic situations such as withdrawing life support. However, almost everyday, routine decisions in healthcare involve ethics. Providing patient education in an effective manner depends upon using an ethical approach. This article discusses various philosophical approaches to making ethical decisions in healthcare, specifically patient and family and education; however, the main purpose of the article is the application of the Symphonological approach utilizing case studies.
Introduction
As nurses, we make ethical decisions on a daily basis, and most of the time, never realize it. This is because when we think of ethics in healthcare, we think of dramatic situations like withdrawing life support and refusal of lifesaving treatment. The day-to-day activities of providing healthcare information to patients and family members is seen as "part of the job" and not as ethical in nature. However, to help patients achieve their healthcare goals, every decision a nurse makes, including decisions about educating the patient, involves ethics. More than one theory of ethics is currently used to make healthcare decisions. The main focus of this article is the application of the ethical theory of symphonology (Husted & Husted, 2008); however, this article will briefly describe two other commonly used theories (deontology and utilitarianism). Through the case study approach, the application of symphonology will be discussed and examples provided to guide nurses in bioethical decision making related to patient and family education.
Deontology
Some professionals believe that what is ethical is to do one's duty. This is supported by the philosophical approach known as "deontology." Deontology is a dutybased ethic that directs actions taken by the agent while ignoring concern for rewards, happiness, or any resulting consequences (Hill & Sweig, 2003). Deontology is based on the ethical concepts of right or wrong. When making decisions, the individual does his duty; his duty is what is right. Not doing one's duty is wrong (Husted & Husted, 2008). Deontology separates good from right; good and right do not always occur together when approaching ethical decisions from the deontological perspective. What is right may not necessarily be good; it may not achieve a good outcome (Chinn & Kramer, 2004). Following formal rules of conduct is required, regardless of their results. Consequences are...