Ethics in Rehabilitation by Kornblau Barbara;Burkhardt Ann;

Author:Kornblau, Barbara;Burkhardt, Ann;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SLACK, Incorporated

CASE STUDY

The following case study illustrates the four paradigms and the penalties that may result from the chosen behavior.

Mary recently graduated from school, passed her required practice exam, received her license/certification 3 weeks ago, and just started her first job as a health and rehabilitation professional. In the long-term care facility where she works, she walks into a patient’s room to see the patient and finds the patient on the floor. Mary has a history of facing reprimands from her supervisor for failing to lock the wheelchair.

Legal and Ethical Response

Mary responded in a manner that was both legal and ethical when she immediately rang the call bell for help. She followed up, as necessary, by attempting to alert others in the hall outside the door to the room. She reassured the patient, who was alert. Mary recognized both a legal and ethical duty to get help and reassure the patient. By taking the actions she did, Mary put the patient’s needs first. She abided by the ethical principle of beneficence by pursing a duty to help the patient. Her action supported the legal duty owed to the patient by a reasonable, prudent health and rehabilitation professional (Meadows, Baker, & Butler, 2005).

Possible Penalties

None. Mary acted ethically and legally (Shapiro, 2001).

Legal and Not Ethical Response

Mary’s responded in a legal but not ethical manner when she just checked to make sure the patient had not broken any bones. She asked the patient if she was in any pain to which the patient replied, “No.” Seeing no injury, Mary assisted the patient back into her chair. Mary kept the incident to herself because she feared she would “get in trouble.” Though some may disagree, it appears Mary acted legally. She committed no crime by her actions and brought no harm to the patient. However, by her actions, Mary showed she placed her needs above the patient’s needs. She disregarded the facility’s policy that requires all personnel report incidents such as this one and covered up the incident, violating the principle of veracity by omission.

Possible Penalties

If her supervisor discovered her actions, Mary would face reprimand from her supervisor and could lose her job. The patient, supervisor, coworkers, or facility representatives could report Mary’s behavior to the professional association’s ethics enforcement body for violation of the professional code of ethics. If reported, Mary would have to defend her actions to the ethics enforcement body. As a result of the ethics enforcement body’s action, Mary could face a public or private reprimand, find her membership revoked, and ruin her reputation. Further, if the ethics body finds a violation and reports it to the licensure board, Mary might have to defend herself before the licensure board and face possible revocation, suspension, or supervision of her license on a probationary status. The licensure board might also notify the public of its actions.

Ethical and Not Legal Response

Mary’s ethical but not legal response began with her failing to ask the patient whether she hurt herself as a result of the fall.

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