Charlotte Barclay
Unit 5
Kara Stoker
Ethical issues and Care
BP.3 EXPLAIN HOW TO INCORPORATE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES INTO THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS
I’m going to be researching into the provision of support at local care homes in my area. I am going
to research upon two case studies; Aisha who is an 82-year-old Buddhist who recently suffered from
pneumonia and has vascular dementia and Tremayne who is a 54-year-old male who suffers from
autism and a wheat allergy. He was recently admitted to hospital because of a broken leg. I am going
to explain how to incorporate ethical principles into the provision of support for individuals with
diverse needs, analyse how ethical approaches would benefit specific individuals and their needs
and justify the strategies used to overcome ethical issues when planning and providing care.
Ethics in Health and Social Care
Working ethically is to respect basic values and principles and also facing moral questions such as
prolonging the life of a terminally ill patient. It is important within health and social care because
workers have to face healthcare dilemmas and make good judgement and decisions based off of
their values. All decisions should be respectful to the values and the attitude of the patient, for
example before vaccinating children, their beliefs have to be taken into account before any decisions
will be made. When making ethical decisions within healthcare, the patients must have a clear
channel of communication between the health care provider and the patient, as without this the
patients wished cannot be taken into consideration.
Consequentialism
The consequentialism theory suggests that the correct moral response is related to the
consequences of an act, not the intentions behind it. This means that a doctor would choose an
action that would maximise the possibility of a good outcome. For example, a doctor having enough
of a medicine to cure one severely ill patient or ten patients who are less sick. As a consequentialist,
the doctor would choose to cure the ten sick people and allow the severely ill patient to die, as that’s
ten successes vs the one they would have by curing the other person. Although this wouldn’t be
ethical to everyone, to a consequentialist, the act is morally right if it maximises good. This could
relate to Aisha’s pneumonia, as the doctors chose to help her, because her case wasn’t very severe.
Due to her age, Aisha may not have been treated if the doctor was a consequentialist because the
likelihood of her making a full recovery in a short space of time is smaller than the likelihood of
someone in their middle ages recovering. Consequentialism provides support for Tremayne, because
he isn’t old and severely ill, meaning that he is more likely to get treated. This is because his broken
leg and dietary issues are relatively simple to fix and aren’t costly to the NHS. Getting treated quickly
could have a positive effect of Tremaynes mental health because he will feel like he’s been listened
to by the doctors, rather than ignored because he didn’t have to wait for treatment. On the other
hand, Aisha may not be supported by consequentialism due to the fact she is elderly and suffers
from a terminal illness, so her treatment will have a lower success rate. Also, with her being 82 years
old, a consequentialist may decide that treatment isn't an option because it will be expensive for the
NHS and there are chances, she wouldn’t make a full recovery. Furthermore, it would take a lot
longer for Aisha to heal from any sort of trauma or surgery than it would someone younger and
healthier.
, Charlotte Barclay
Unit 5
Kara Stoker
Deontology
The deontology theory suggests that obligations and duties should be stuck to as its ethically correct
and it focuses on the intentions behind the decision rather than the outcome. This theory also
suggests that treatment should be applied consistently to everyone, without taking other factors
into account, such as a shortage of resources. An example of this would be treating Aisha’s vascular
dementia, as although it can't be cured, specialists can help manage it so that Aisha can live the end
of her life as happy and comfortable as possible. Although the time and resources could be used to
treat someone younger, it is ethically right for them to support Aisha. Deontology supports patients
such as Aisha, as even though she is elderly and coming towards the end of her life, she still has the
right to access healthcare and be treated, no matter the cost to the NHS. The use of this ethical
approach offers more support to older people, who may be declined the care they need, due to their
age. Tremayne is also supported by deontology, as the theory suggests that all patients are owed a
duty of care and that they should not be harmed. This benefit Tremayne because it allows him to
access treatment for his broken leg.
Principlism
The principlism theory is an approach that uses four different ethical practices. These are autonomy,
beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. The general aim of this theory is to bring together four of
the best elements from other ethical theories to match most people from different diverse
backgrounds. Autonomy is to respect the decision-making capabilities of people, allowing them to
make informed choices about their care. Beneficence is balancing the costs and risks of treatment
against the benefits. This allows treatment to benefit the patient while also promoting the wellbeing
of others around them. The care provider has a number of moral rules that are used to help protect
the rights of others, help people with disabilities and prevent harm. Non-maleficence is avoiding
causing harm to the patient, and is supported by moral rules such as do not cause pain or suffering.
An example of this is not giving a patient medication if the side effects outweigh the benefits. Justice
is being morally right, fair distribution of benefits and following the rights of people involved.
Principlism can relate to Aisha, as it allows her to get treatment for her pneumonia without the fear
of getting turned down because somebody else, who is healthier, needs treatment. This can allow
her to live a longer life and can allow her to become more comfortable. Principlism also supports
Aisha, as it allows her to get fair treatment to the same standard as others. As principlism is a
mixture of the other ethical theories, it may be the most supportive for Aisha, as it weighs out all the
advantages and disadvantages of her care, despite the fact she can't make her own decisions and
can also save the NHS money. Tremayne is also supported by this ethical theory because it respects
autonomy, which would allow Tremayne to make his own decisions regarding his care. This means
that the doctors cannot do something he doesn’t want them to do, even if it's in his best interest. By
taking this approach, Tremayne could become empowered, which benefits him as this can help him
better understand his conditions and his body. Due to his autism, he may feel like isn't listened to, so
by empowering him, it could lead to increased mood as he will feel he is in control.
Virtue Ethics
The virtue ethics theory suggests the care professional should make decisions based off of their
morals and how they feel is the right way to behave and treat the patient. This theory suggests that
good practice is as a result of how the doctor's morals allow them to promote good to the patient.
Often healthcare professionals adopt this approach because the other theories are abstract and
have to be interpreted in context, whereas virtue ethics suggest that instead all the healthcare
Unit 5
Kara Stoker
Ethical issues and Care
BP.3 EXPLAIN HOW TO INCORPORATE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES INTO THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS
I’m going to be researching into the provision of support at local care homes in my area. I am going
to research upon two case studies; Aisha who is an 82-year-old Buddhist who recently suffered from
pneumonia and has vascular dementia and Tremayne who is a 54-year-old male who suffers from
autism and a wheat allergy. He was recently admitted to hospital because of a broken leg. I am going
to explain how to incorporate ethical principles into the provision of support for individuals with
diverse needs, analyse how ethical approaches would benefit specific individuals and their needs
and justify the strategies used to overcome ethical issues when planning and providing care.
Ethics in Health and Social Care
Working ethically is to respect basic values and principles and also facing moral questions such as
prolonging the life of a terminally ill patient. It is important within health and social care because
workers have to face healthcare dilemmas and make good judgement and decisions based off of
their values. All decisions should be respectful to the values and the attitude of the patient, for
example before vaccinating children, their beliefs have to be taken into account before any decisions
will be made. When making ethical decisions within healthcare, the patients must have a clear
channel of communication between the health care provider and the patient, as without this the
patients wished cannot be taken into consideration.
Consequentialism
The consequentialism theory suggests that the correct moral response is related to the
consequences of an act, not the intentions behind it. This means that a doctor would choose an
action that would maximise the possibility of a good outcome. For example, a doctor having enough
of a medicine to cure one severely ill patient or ten patients who are less sick. As a consequentialist,
the doctor would choose to cure the ten sick people and allow the severely ill patient to die, as that’s
ten successes vs the one they would have by curing the other person. Although this wouldn’t be
ethical to everyone, to a consequentialist, the act is morally right if it maximises good. This could
relate to Aisha’s pneumonia, as the doctors chose to help her, because her case wasn’t very severe.
Due to her age, Aisha may not have been treated if the doctor was a consequentialist because the
likelihood of her making a full recovery in a short space of time is smaller than the likelihood of
someone in their middle ages recovering. Consequentialism provides support for Tremayne, because
he isn’t old and severely ill, meaning that he is more likely to get treated. This is because his broken
leg and dietary issues are relatively simple to fix and aren’t costly to the NHS. Getting treated quickly
could have a positive effect of Tremaynes mental health because he will feel like he’s been listened
to by the doctors, rather than ignored because he didn’t have to wait for treatment. On the other
hand, Aisha may not be supported by consequentialism due to the fact she is elderly and suffers
from a terminal illness, so her treatment will have a lower success rate. Also, with her being 82 years
old, a consequentialist may decide that treatment isn't an option because it will be expensive for the
NHS and there are chances, she wouldn’t make a full recovery. Furthermore, it would take a lot
longer for Aisha to heal from any sort of trauma or surgery than it would someone younger and
healthier.
, Charlotte Barclay
Unit 5
Kara Stoker
Deontology
The deontology theory suggests that obligations and duties should be stuck to as its ethically correct
and it focuses on the intentions behind the decision rather than the outcome. This theory also
suggests that treatment should be applied consistently to everyone, without taking other factors
into account, such as a shortage of resources. An example of this would be treating Aisha’s vascular
dementia, as although it can't be cured, specialists can help manage it so that Aisha can live the end
of her life as happy and comfortable as possible. Although the time and resources could be used to
treat someone younger, it is ethically right for them to support Aisha. Deontology supports patients
such as Aisha, as even though she is elderly and coming towards the end of her life, she still has the
right to access healthcare and be treated, no matter the cost to the NHS. The use of this ethical
approach offers more support to older people, who may be declined the care they need, due to their
age. Tremayne is also supported by deontology, as the theory suggests that all patients are owed a
duty of care and that they should not be harmed. This benefit Tremayne because it allows him to
access treatment for his broken leg.
Principlism
The principlism theory is an approach that uses four different ethical practices. These are autonomy,
beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. The general aim of this theory is to bring together four of
the best elements from other ethical theories to match most people from different diverse
backgrounds. Autonomy is to respect the decision-making capabilities of people, allowing them to
make informed choices about their care. Beneficence is balancing the costs and risks of treatment
against the benefits. This allows treatment to benefit the patient while also promoting the wellbeing
of others around them. The care provider has a number of moral rules that are used to help protect
the rights of others, help people with disabilities and prevent harm. Non-maleficence is avoiding
causing harm to the patient, and is supported by moral rules such as do not cause pain or suffering.
An example of this is not giving a patient medication if the side effects outweigh the benefits. Justice
is being morally right, fair distribution of benefits and following the rights of people involved.
Principlism can relate to Aisha, as it allows her to get treatment for her pneumonia without the fear
of getting turned down because somebody else, who is healthier, needs treatment. This can allow
her to live a longer life and can allow her to become more comfortable. Principlism also supports
Aisha, as it allows her to get fair treatment to the same standard as others. As principlism is a
mixture of the other ethical theories, it may be the most supportive for Aisha, as it weighs out all the
advantages and disadvantages of her care, despite the fact she can't make her own decisions and
can also save the NHS money. Tremayne is also supported by this ethical theory because it respects
autonomy, which would allow Tremayne to make his own decisions regarding his care. This means
that the doctors cannot do something he doesn’t want them to do, even if it's in his best interest. By
taking this approach, Tremayne could become empowered, which benefits him as this can help him
better understand his conditions and his body. Due to his autism, he may feel like isn't listened to, so
by empowering him, it could lead to increased mood as he will feel he is in control.
Virtue Ethics
The virtue ethics theory suggests the care professional should make decisions based off of their
morals and how they feel is the right way to behave and treat the patient. This theory suggests that
good practice is as a result of how the doctor's morals allow them to promote good to the patient.
Often healthcare professionals adopt this approach because the other theories are abstract and
have to be interpreted in context, whereas virtue ethics suggest that instead all the healthcare
