Ethical Dilemmas I

Ethical dilemmas arise when attempted adherence to fundamental ethical principles results in conflicting courses of action.

For example, in cases of abortion, the nurse's belief that abortion is immoral may conflict with the professional obligation to provide quality nursing care without judging the patient's character or the morality of the intervention.

Nurses also encounter ethical dilemmas while caring for minors related to reproductive health, drug abuse, or mental health, as competent adolescents have the right to consent and request confidentiality of medical information for certain types of routine treatment.

For instance, when a minor requests treatment for a sexually transmitted disease without parental knowledge, the nurse faces a dilemma between seeking parental consent or keeping the health information confidential.

In another scenario, the nurse should not compel parents to vaccinate their children after emphasizing the importance of immunization.

In this instance, the nurse faces a dilemma between safeguarding a child from potentially fatal illnesses or supporting the parent's right to autonomy in determining treatment choices.