About

➀ Read and Learn

The following course content

Introduction   

Nursing practice is deeply rooted in ethical principles that guide decision-making and patient care. Bioethics is a crucial aspect of healthcare that provides a framework for analyzing ethical dilemmas and promoting individualized patient-centered care respectfully and compassionately (1). Nursing ethics involves applying bioethical principles in practice, such as maintaining patient confidentiality and respecting autonomy (2). Nurses face ethical dilemmas regularly. One of the most common is providing care that conflicts with personal beliefs (3).

Definition and Purpose 

Bioethics is the study of ethical and moral principles guiding healthcare decisions and practices (4). Its purpose is to ensure that healthcare providers make informed decisions that respect patients' values, beliefs, and rights (5). 

Bioethics provides a framework for analyzing ethical issues in healthcare while considering the interests of the patients, their families, and the healthcare providers involved in their care (6). By understanding the definition and purpose of bioethics, nurses can develop a strong foundation for addressing ethical challenges in practice, such as informed consent, patient confidentiality, and when it may infringe upon others’ health and proper resource allocation (7, 8).

Principles of Bioethics 

The principles of bioethics include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice (9). Autonomy respects patients' decision-making capacity, beneficence promotes a patient's well-being, non-maleficence avoids any harm to the patient, and justice ensures fairness and equity for all involved in the patient’s care (10). 

These principles should serve as the guiding force in nursing practice; influencing the decisions related to patient care, research, and policy development (11, 12). Autonomy empowers patients to make informed choices about their care. This may include decisions that the patient’s family and even healthcare providers may disagree with personally. Beneficence compels nurses to act in the best interests of their patients and advocate for the patient’s desires (13). Non-maleficence reminds nurses to avoid causing harm; this includes not just physical but emotional and mental harm as well (14).

Types of Ethics and Professions 

Different professions have specific ethical guidelines, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for nurses (15). Understanding the ethical framework of various professions is essential to the interdisciplinary healthcare approach (16). 

Interdisciplinary collaboration requires an understanding of diverse ethical perspectives and principles, an approach that coincides with an equally diverse patient population (17). Nurses should be aware of the ethical guidelines that govern their practice and be able to apply them in diverse healthcare settings. They must also be aware of their own beliefs and guidelines and how these may affect their decision-making, adversely affecting patient care (18).

Ethics in Nursing 

Nursing ethics involves applying principles in practice that benefit the patient, healthcare providers, and loved ones of the patient. Examples include things such as maintaining patient confidentiality and respecting autonomy, helping the patient make the right decision for themselves, and advocating for those decisions to others (19). One of the most difficult decisions nurses face involves those that conflict with their personal belief system (20). 

Nurses must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate these ethical challenges and provide care that respects patients' values and beliefs while also nurturing their thoughts and feelings (21). By exploring bioethics in nursing, we can promote a culture of ethical practice that is compassionate and patient-centered (22). 

Henrietta Lacks Story 

Henrietta Lacks was a Black tobacco farmer who had her cancer cells taken without her knowledge or consent which led to numerous scientific breakthroughs, including the development of the polio vaccine (23). Her story raises important questions about medical ethics, racism, and the intersection of science and human compassion. 

In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer and began treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. During her treatment, a sample collection of her cancer cells was taken by her doctor, Dr. George Gey without her knowledge and or consent (24). Dr. Gey discovered that Henrietta's cells were extraordinary in nature and could be of great value for cancer research and future developments as they could survive and thrive in a laboratory setting thus making them ideal for scientific research. 

Henrietta's cells, known as HeLa cells, were soon being used in laboratories worldwide, leading to numerous scientific breakthroughs, including the polio vaccine development, in vitro fertilization, and gene mapping (25). However, Henrietta's family was never informed or financially compensated for the use of her cells, and her story remained largely unknown until the publication of Rebecca Skloot's book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" in 2010 (23). 

Henrietta's story highlights the unethical practices that were common in the medical field at the time, particularly in relation to patients that lacked resources, particularly those belonging to minority groups (26). Her cells were taken without her consent, and she was never compensated or acknowledged for her contribution to science. This raised some very important questions about medical ethics, informed consent, and the exploitation of vulnerable populations. 

Still, Henrietta's story is a powerful reminder of the intersection of science and the need for personal autonomy (27). Her cells have been used to advance scientific knowledge, but they also represent a person, a family, and a community. The use of her cells without her consent or compensation is a violation of her humanity and a reminder of the need for ethical considerations in scientific research. 

Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments 

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study was a highly controversial and unethical medical experiment conducted on African American men in Macon County, Alabama between 1932 and 1972 (24). The study, led by the Department of U.S. Public Health Services, involved withholding treatment from hundreds of African American men infected with syphilis despite the availability of effective therapies, to study the natural progression of the disease (25). 

The men, who were mostly illiterate and poor, were not informed that they had syphilis, their partners were not informed of the disease, nor were they given treatment for the disease (26). Instead, they were given placebos and misleading information about their condition (27). The study continued for 40 years, during which time many of the men died from syphilis-related complications, and many others suffered serious health problems which included the spreading of syphilis to unsuspecting sexual partners (28). 

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study is widely regarded as one of the most unethical medical experiments in history. The study was conducted without the men's knowledge or consent, and it violated basic human rights and principles of medical ethics (30). By way of public outcry and shock, the awareness of these experiments led to major changes in the way human subjects are protected in medical research and a desire for closer oversight by governing groups (29).  

In 1974, a class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of the men who were involved in the study, resulting in a multimillion-dollar settlement (31). The study also led to the establishment of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, which developed guidelines for the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects (32). 

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study has had a lasting impact on the field of medicine and beyond (33). It highlighted the importance of informed consent and the need for ethical oversight in the field of medical research (34). It has also led to the increased scrutiny of medical experiments and a greater emphasis on protecting human subjects, their privacy, and most importantly honest care and explanations of medical conditions and treatments (35). 

Today, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study is remembered as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unethical medical research (36). It serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing the well-being and safety of people and the need for ongoing vigilance in ensuring that medical research is conducted ethically and responsibly, and ensuring there are the proper checks and balances in place to provide the oversight needed (37). 

The study also highlighted the need for diversity in medical research and the importance of including diverse populations in clinical trials (38). It led to increased efforts to address health disparities and to ensure that medical research is conducted in a way that is fair and equitable to all (39). 

In addition, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study led to changes in the way that medical research is regulated and overseen (40). It led to the establishment of institutional review boards (IRBs) and independent ethics committees (IECs) which are responsible for reviewing and approving research protocols and ensuring they meet the ethical standards set in place (41). 

Transparency and accountability in medical research have also been placed at the forefront of research since these events took place (42). Highlighting the importance of disclosing potential conflicts of interest and ensuring research is conducted in a way that is transparent and open to scrutiny; there inevitably was major change and growth that came from this huge medical injustice (43). 

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study was a highly unethical and controversial medical experiment that had a profound impact on the field of medicine and beyond. It highlighted the importance of informed consent, ethical oversight, and diversity in medical research, and led to major changes in the way medical research is conducted and regulated. In these ways, it acted as a catalyst of growth and change in the way the U.S. views and treats research participants. It serves as a reminder of the need for ongoing vigilance in ensuring medical research is conducted ethically and responsibly. 

The Tuskegee Syphilis Studies and Henrietta Lacks' cases highlight the importance of informed consent in research (23). 

Other examples include: 

• Abortion and reproductive rights (24) 

• Euthanasia and end-of-life care (25) 

• Gene editing and genetic research (26) 

• Healthcare access and disparities (27)

Research in Ethics 

Research ethics involves applying bioethical principles in research. Obtaining informed consent and ensuring participant confidentiality are two ways in which the provider can best provide ethical care to those that entrust the healthcare system with their voluntary well-being (28). 

Researchers must be aware of ethical principles that guide research and ensure their studies are conducted ethically and responsibly which puts the client first (29). 

Ethical Decision-Making 

Ethical decision-making involves critical thinking, moral principles, and professional standards (30). Nurses can use ethical frameworks, such as the ETHICAL model, to guide decision-making (31). Ethical decision-making is a crucial aspect of nursing practice as it enables nurses to navigate complex healthcare issues and promote patients' well-being (32). 

Conclusion 

Bioethics plays a vital role in nursing practice, ensuring that patients receive respectful and compassionate care. Understanding bioethical principles and applications is essential for nurses to provide high-quality care. By applying ethical principles and frameworks, nurses can navigate complex healthcare issues and promote patients' well-being. 

➁ Complete Survey

Give us your thoughts and feedback

➂ Click Complete

To receive your certificate