Medical Ethics
Ethics guides the medical profession. Different principles exist to form the benchmark for measuring the decent performances of a medical officer. The principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice will apply to the scenario of Mr. Newcomb. The patient is always given the priority, although ethical standards should not be compromised under any circumstances. The best response to give to Mr. Newcomb is to ask for information on whether his wife is aware of the mistress. Also, attempts will be made on the best way to address his request. The request made by Mr. Newcomb could be unexpected since his relationship with Mrs. Newcomb has been excellent. The best thing to do is to avoid any situation that will cause a scene in the hospital and ensure the patient is satisfied with the efforts made.
Beneficence
Beneficence has to do with the moral standards of the medical officer. According to the principle of beneficence, any action taken should be for the good of the patient (Savulescu, 2017). Also, the patient should be cautious not to cause harm to the patient by taking any action. In the case of Mr. Newcomb, the case should be widely analyzed to avoid any situation that would cause harm to Mr. Newcomb. Probing should be done to make sure that meeting the mistress is the best thing that will happen to Mr. Newcomb at that moment. For example, if Mr. Newcomb will be happy after seeing his mistress, then he might lengthen his life. Also, Mr. Newcomb may be disappointed for not being helped to see his mistress and could be depressed. Therefore, an attempt should be made to make Mr. Newcomb satisfied. Moreover, Mr. Newcomb is the patient, and any efforts to assist him should be given the priority.
Non-Maleficence
The principle of non-maleficence considers the wellbeing of both the patient and society. Although the patient is prioritized, society should not suffer from the procedures done to the patient (Roubaix, 2011). Generally, a procedure done on patients should cause no harm both to the patient and society. However, exceptions may be allowed where the harm is unavoidable, but the outcome is beneficial. In the case of Mr. Newcomb, a dilemma exists on how to avoid causing harm. Mr. Newcomb wants his meeting with the mistress to be kept secret. If Mr. Newcomb is denied the chance to meet his mistress, then his mental peace could be harmed. On the other side, Mrs. Newcomb could be disappointed in learning that the nurse conspired behind her back to allow her husband to meet his mistress. To avoid causing harm to either party, the relationship between the nurse should probe to know how Mrs. Newcomb will react to the request made by Mr. Newcomb.
Autonomy
Respect for autonomy is concerned with letting adult people be free while making decisions. Adults are expected to have sufficient decision-making capacity, and any attempt to disrespect their choices could be viewed as unprofessional (Huycke & All, 2010). However, respect for autonomy should be upheld under certain conditions. For example, the intention, understandability, and absence of controlling influences should be considered. After ensuring that the conditions are considered, the patient should be told the truth, and respect for privacy should be maintained. In Mr. Newcomb’s scenario, the decision should be respected because Mr. Newcomb is an adult. Secondly, the privacy of Mr. Newcomb should be respected in that Mrs. Newcomb does not have to know that Mr. Newcomb has met his mistress. Also, for any decision to be made, consent should be sought from Mr. Newcomb.
Justice
The principle of justice is based on how fairly players in the treatment process are treated. Every player should always receive a fair share of the resources. Also, the decision to share should be based on merit (Roubaix, 2011). Mr. Newcomb’s scenario may not require much from the principle of justice. The leading player in the scene is Mr. Newcomb and should receive the best treatment. Justice may apply in that the interests of Mrs. Newcomb are protected by not letting her know about the mistress’s issue. Generally, justice is served by ensuring that everybody is comfortable with their share.
Conclusion
In sum, the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice will be applied to the scenario of Mr. Newcomb. Mr. Newcomb is the patient, and any attempts to assist him should be given the priority. To avoid causing harm to either party, the relationship between the nurse should probe to know how Mrs. Newcomb will react to the request made by Mr. Newcomb. Newcomb’s scenario, the decision should be respected because Mr. Newcomb is an adult. Also, justice is served by ensuring that everybody is comfortable with their share. Generally, a nurse is bound by the ethical standards of the medical sector.
References
De Roubaix, J. A. M. (2011). Beneficence, non-maleficence, distributive justice and respect for patient autonomy–reconcilable ends in aesthetic surgery?. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 64(1), 11-16.
Huycke, L., & All, A. C. (2010). Quality in health care and ethical principles. Journal of advanced nursing, 32(3), 562-571.
Savulescu, J. (2017). In defence of procreative beneficence. Journal of Medical Ethics, 33(5), 284-288.