I will be explaining how to incorporate ethical principles into the provision of support for
individuals from the case studies who have varying needs.
Conflict of interest – is when care workers are faced with a conflict of interest, they will need
to find an ethical solution. Ethical solutions need to consider risk to the individual, legal
responsibilities and have they got all the facts of the case. For example, a doctor being asked
to prescribe the contraceptive pill to an underage girl without her parents’ consent. In
Valerie’s case, she might don’t want to go to a dietitian as she doesn’t see why she have to
go however, a social worker thinks it would benefit her in doing this – this would be a
conflict of interest.
Balancing services and resources – is when care workers need to make a practical decision
on how resources should be allocated. In what way does the health and social care services
should be provided, especially when there is limited funding and almost unlimited demand.
For example, any decisions on health care research are made by research ethics committees
that review research proposals using policies which lay down the principles, requirements
and standards they are expected to adhere to. In Aisha’s case, there may not be enough
resources for the care worker supporting Aisha in the residential home, however the care
worker could tell the manager about the problem and what resources are needed to give
Aisha the right care and support – this would be balancing services and resources.
Managing confidentiality – workers have to keep information private by not sharing
information about individuals without their knowledge and agreement. For example, a
member of staff puts a photo on social media of people living in a shelter for victims of
domestic abuse to escape their abusive partners, then this could lead to abusive partners
discovering their whereabouts. In Billy’s case, when talking with the social worker about his
situation and sharing information, the social worker should maintain confidentiality due to
protect the information of clients. However, there are occasions when information has to be
shared, when for example Billy might harm himself or others. All health and social care
settings have procedures in place that must be followed with regard to the breeching of
confidentiality. To make sure confidentiality isn't broken proof of id needs to be used, closing
a door in GP so no one can hear or see inside, passwords on computers, paperwork locked in
cabinet, not using patient’s names openly.
References:
https://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/FEAndVocational/HealthAndSocialCare/BT
EC/BTECNationalsHealthandSocialCare2016/Samples/Student-Book-1/BTEC-National-in-Heal
th-and-Social-Care-Unit-05-web-ready.pdf
http://www.oecd.org/governance/ethics/conflict-of-interest/
https://www.nice.org.uk/news/feature/what-social-values-should-nice-consider-when-balan
cing-fairness-with-efficiency
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2013/09/nhs-workforce-balance-cost-effectiveness-safe
ty
https://empowers.brother.com.au/2019/05/13/5-important-ways-to-maintain-patient-confi
dentiality/
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