Ethical dilemmas are circumstances in which there is a potential conflict between two
choices of actions that are ethical and reasonable but cannot be satisfied (Htay, M., & Whitehead,
D., 2021). In this healthcare setting, dilemmas are often conflicting because resources can be
limited, and policies and compliances have to be followed thoroughly. These dilemmas become
difficult to solve since the doctor is always thinking of what would be the fastest and best benefit
to the patient. In this experience, there was an ethical dilemma between a police officer and a
doctor.
Ethical dilemmas
An underage patient came accompanied by their legal guardian with a chief complaint of
intentionally digesting medication. Upon further assessment, we gathered that the patient
consumed a harmful amount of medication, and the reason they were doing it was to feel
“hallucinations.” At this very moment, poison control had to be called; they informed that the
patient was at high risk of having cardiac arrest and seizures and that it was fairly important to
try to get them out of the facility as soon as possible to seek the appropriate care. 911 had to be
called, fire rescue and police officers showed up. The incident happened in a different county,
and the patient arrived at a healthcare setting that is part of another county. The police officers
could not take the patient unless he was baker acted. The Baker Act is a Florida Law that gives
permission to families to provide emergency mental health aid and temporary restraints for
people who are unable to decide their own needs for treatment (University of Florida Health,
2023). On the other hand, the doctor did not believe the patient should be placed under the
Backer Act. The doctor believed the patient did not have any ideas of self-harm.
At this time, the situation was complicated because the police officers were following
their code of ethics as well as the doctor. The doctor had gathered enough information to
conclude that the patient was not trying to harm themselves. On the other hand, the police
officers see that the patient is underage, intentionally taking medications over the normal
amount, and automatically suspect the patient has a reason to be harming themselves. Another
addition to this dilemma is that there are no specialized professionals such as mental health
doctors that could assess the patient to evaluate him and determine if he is a risk to himself or
others. As nurses, we had to tell the police officers the serious effects of not taking this patient
right away since we did not have the emergency equipment required if this patient were to
present with the possible side effects from consuming the harmful amount of medication.
To order this assignment click here or contact info@topgradeswriting.com
Ethical dilemmas
In conclusion, this ethical dilemma was finally resolved after the police officers were
aware of the situation and respected the doctor’s autonomy to decide what was best for the
patient at that time. This dilemma could have been avoided if the doctor and the police officers
spoke directly to one another. This would have provided better communication and
understanding from both sides. In the end, the situation was solved, and both sides were able to
keep the patient safe.
To order this assignment click here or contact info@topgradeswriting.com