Question

An ethical decision-making process should be followed to ensure sound moral judgments are made (Harman, 2017). In the professional setting, such as in health care, a formal matrix structure may prove beneficial for managers to work through an ethical dilemma.

Using the Ethical Decision-Making Matrix template, construct a scenario that you might encounter as a health care manager.

• In a concise paragraph, explain your ethical dilemma scenario.
• Using the template, create your Ethical Decision-Making Matrix, populating all fields with information.
• In approximately one paragraph, summarize the conclusion of your ethical dilemma.
• Briefly explain how the matrix aided you in reaching a conclusion.
• Include references, in APA format, on a separate reference page.

Ethical Decision Making Matrix

• Steps	Information
  What is the question?
  What is my “gut” reaction?	What is your first reaction to this case on an emotional level? What assumptions are you making? What biases do you have?
  What are the facts?	KNOWN	TO BE GATHERED
  What are the values? Examine the shared and competing values, obligations, and interests of the many stakeholders in order to fully understand the complexity of the ethical problem(s). STAKEHOLDERS Patient, family, HCM professional(s), health care professionals, administrators, society, and others appropriate to the issue.	Patient: HCM Professional(s): Healthcare professional(s): Administrators: Society: Others as appropriate:
  What are my options?
  What should I do?
  What justifies my choice?	JUSTIFIED	NOT JUSTIFIED
  How can I prevent this problem?

Answer 1

ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING MATRIX

Steps	Information
What is the question?	Should the nurse inform to the patient that he had colon cancer which is an advanced stage?
What is my “gut” reaction?	What is your first reaction to this case on an emotional level? I thought I should be truthful to the patient and at the same time, I should follow my ethical principles. What assumptions are you making? What biases do you have? His condition has to be informed by the physician but his family members thought that this is not the right time to inform. Whether to inform the exact situation to the patient or to obey his family members words.
What are the facts?	KNOWN The patient is 68 years old with colon cancer. The health care team planned for palliative care. The family members doesn't want to inform the patient about his condition. The family members decided on DNR status. The patient keeps on asking about his condition to the assigned nurse. The patient is not financially supported.	TO BE GATHERED Why the patient keeps on asking the same question? Why the family members do not allow the patient to take the decision on his condition? Why are the family members not discussing his condition with him? Does he sign on advanced directives and who have rights to take a decision on behalf him? Whether the patient willing to DNR? Does he accepted the family members decision or not?
What are the values? Examine the shared and competing values, obligations, and interests of the many stakeholders in order to fully understand the complexity of the ethical problem(s). STAKEHOLDERS Patient, family, HCM professional(s), health care professionals, administrators, society, and others appropriate to the issue.	Patient: As a patient, he has the autonomy to know about his health status. The patient has the right to die with dignity and should respect his values and feelings. The patient should receive hospice care at the end - of -life. The ethical principle of beneficence should be followed. HCM Professional(s): Health care members should maintain the autonomy, confidentiality, and privacy of the patient. Healthcare professional(s): Health care professionals should respect the patient's trust and prevents harm to the patient. The health care team should obey the patient's obligation and provide hospice care. They also should respect the family members decisions and should take a clinical decision. Administrators: Administrator should follow family-centered care and provide welfare to the patient and family members. They should allocate adequate resources and prevents unnecessary costs. Society: Society enhances good quality care and patient-centered care. Others as appropriate: All health care workers should value the patient and provide optimum care for the patient.
What are my options?	The physician and nurse could inform the patient at least the basis he must know about his health condition or convince his family members to inform the patient and to take a decision.
What should I do?	Can inform about his condition.
What justifies my choice?	JUSTIFIED Based on the ethical principle of autonomy, the patient has to be informed him about the diagnosis and make him take the decision at the end-of-life care. Explain to him about the prognosis of the disease and what are the benefits and harms to the patient. Explain to the family members that his respect on them and their wrong decision of not disclosing the patient condition and the associated risks.	NOT JUSTIFIED Obey to the family member decision and not disclosing of patient information.
How can I prevent this problem?	The opinion of the patient may differ from family members decision. So be honest and truthful to the patient even though he is older and financially not supported. The health care team should take clinical judgment.