Communication is a crucial component in all steps of the healthcare process. One of the most important parts of communication is listening. Dr Kerr effectively listens to Jenna and Chris Smith. She learns about their lifestyle, the way they want to rise Ana, and their concerns about vaccination. Listening helps Dr Kerr to understand why the Smith family is against vaccination. Dr Kerr’s communication is effective in this case study because she focuses on patient safety, shares research findings and give examples. First, Dr Kerr states that vaccines have saved the lives of millions of children worldwide and have been largely responsible for the decrease in child mortality. Her statement shows that she is concerned about Ana’s health. Second, Dr Kerr shares the federal government’s VAERS website as a reliable source to confirm the vaccine’s safety. Finally, Dr Kerr brings an example of the recent outbreak of measles. She wants the Smith family to see the consequences of not vaccinating their daughter Ana. Using effective communication, Dr Kerr shows that she respects the Smith family’s opinion about vaccination, but because she is a healthcare professional, she must educate them about the benefits and consequences of it. Even though Dr Kerr’s communication is effective in this case study, the Smith family refuses to vaccinate Ana at this time.
Healthcare professionals use the four ethical principles to resolve ethical dilemmas, such as in the case study. The four ethical principles include autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. In the medical field, autonomy respects a person’s freedom to choose what is right for them. Beneficence means that healthcare providers must do all they can to benefit the patient. All procedures and treatments recommended must be with the intention to do the most good for the patient. Nonmaleficence means that healthcare workers must do no harm intentionally. The justice principle states that there should be fairness in all medical decisions.
In the medical field, the patient’s autonomy often comes into conflict with the doctor’s beneficence. The doctor wants what is best for the patient but also does not want to take away the patient’s autonomy. In the case study, Dr Kerr faces the conflict between autonomy and beneficence. She, as a healthcare professional, wants the best for Ana because her parent strongly agrees with not vaccinating their daughter. Dr Kerr has to respect their decision based on the principle of autonomy. Dr Kerr shows her respect by listening and not coercing them to vaccinate Ana but by educating them about the importance of vaccination and its benefits.
To solve the ethical dilemma related to the case study, Dr Kerr could mention such organizations as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics. CDC is the nation’s health protection agency that saves lives and protects people from health, safety, and security threats. The mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics is to attain optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescence, and young adults. Both organizations apply rigorous scientific standards to ensure the accuracy and reliability of research. Using these two sources, additionally with the VAERS website, could provide the Smith family with more reliable information and the possibility to change their opinion about vaccination based on building more trust. On the other hand, Dr Kerr could also use a story from her experience about an unprotected child who became ill or share a personal experience of vaccinating her family members. Sometimes true stories can build trust or at least make people think more and research more about the concerns they have. Despite the fact that Dr Kerr used effective communication when talking to the Smith family, they still refused vaccination at the end of the conversation. Refusing to vaccinate Ana despite the recommendations of Dr Kerr does not mean that Dr Kerr’s communication is not effective. Some people take a longer time to process the information they just heard or to do more research based on the suggestion given to them. It may happen that on the next doctor’s visit, Jenna and Chris Smith will change their opinion about vaccination. Dr Kerr also could contact Smith a few days after the visit. A caring call or email can provide comfort and reinforce trust.
The four principles of healthcare ethics support healthcare professionals as they navigate patient care. Each of these principles has a unique objective, but the four come together to ensure that patients are receiving high-quality and ethical health care. In this case study, Dr Kerr uses et
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