The last bed in the ICU
Non-malfeasance ethical principle was an issue in this case where Intern B was required not to do any action which could hurt Mrs. A as their patient or lead to deteriorating of her emphysema condition. Intern B was also expected to consider all available less invasive treatment for Mrs. A before applying other invasive treatment methods, as an application of the non-malfeasance ethics. Legal and moral ethics were also applicable in the case since Mrs. A was conscious and could give permission to be helped, in addition to her life being in danger which leads to application of moral ethics. This indicated the emergency of the situation where she was becoming more lethargic and could die before that morning if she was not given a respirator. Personal rights were also involved since Mrs. A had the right to decide if she needed help from Intern B or not, since she had the right to live.
The possible alternatives solutions in the situation would have considered Mrs. A, who knew her age and the number of times she had been in and out of the hospital. Mrs. A had the personal right to decide whether she could accept help and thus demands for the last bed in the ICU or she could decide to decline from getting the help, a situation which could leave the Intern B only an option to comply with legal ethics in the healthcare services. Mrs. A’s sons could also have decided their wish for the care of their mother, from having got all information concerning her current condition where she had respiratory failure and could die by that morning. These could have led to the perception of her condition as an emergency and thus they could have demanded for that last bed in the ICU. The staff had also the decision which could have possibly termed Mrs. A’s condition as an emergency for the last bed, a consideration which could have been be supported by other physicians including Intern B.
The ethical values evident in the above possible solutions are legal, moral and personal rights values. Legal values require live of a patient to be saved when in danger, while moral values lead to consider Mrs. A’s condition as emergency where she could die if not given a respirator. Personal rights were on Mrs. A, who could have decided whether to be helped or not, and also her sons who had the right to demand treatment for their mother.
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