Application of Decision-Making Models in Ethical Dilemma
Application of Decision-Making Models in Ethical Dilemma
An ethical dilemma is normally a complicated situation when a person is fixed to choose what to do between tow equally important things, thereby engaging in a mental conflict that forces him to obey one and going against the other (Corley et al., 2005). In this case, a 6-yrs old child has been rushed to the hospital, only to be diagnosed with meningitis. The illness requires an immediate treatment, but according to the professional code of ethics, a doctor cannot initiate a treatment without consulting either the patient or the parents. Given that the patient in this case was a child, the doctor had to enquire about the treatment from the parents. However, the parents are divorced and each of them holds a different opinion about the treatment of the child. The father wants his son treated, while the mother does not believe in any medication due to her strong Christian faith.
Considering that case, the ethical dilemma is whether to treat the child or not. It is a dilemma because both parents have the legal right to decide on what is good for their child, and the doctor, on the other hand, has to do all he can to save the child’s life. Even though the father wants the boy treated, the mother does not want that and this brings a dilemma on which side the doctor may follow. If he decides to treat the boy, the mother might sue him, and he might end up losing his job. On the other hand, failing to treat the boy will be going against Hippocratic Oath that states that the physician has to do all he can to restore the health of the patients and thereby restoring their wellbeing (Miles, 2005). Therefore, the doctor is in a state of ethical dilemma on whether to treat the boy or not.
Considering the case, the best decision-making model to implement would be the bounded rationality model, which is also known as administrative man model theory. This theory is dependent on achieving a goal, and this requires the person making the decision to have a clear understanding of the alternative of situation at hand that can make him reach to the best goals. Besides, the person making the decision must have full information of what he decides to do, as well as analyzing the possible alternatives that can be implemented, and the kind of impact they will bring to the situation at hand. In addition, this theory requires the decision maker to select the best solution which can only be possible by making the right choice of the available alternative which will successfully accommodate the achievement of goal (Augier, 2000).
In any case the most desirable means are selected to give the solution, then the decision is termed as rational, where intelligence is utilized to come up with the best decision. The administrative man model theory was initiated by Herbert A (Augier, 2000). Simon and assumed that in the process of making the decision, people may prefer much lesser actions because the process is time consuming and requires a lot of information for a solid decision making. This means that the decision maker may choose the most satisfactory decision according to the alternatives available, thereby preventing the pushing forward of those alternatives for a later consideration and decision making.
Using the Bounded Rationality Model, I would solve the ethical dilemma by first figuring out the alternatives. In this case, the alternatives for treating the boy are using other methods to treat the boy other than medication as the mother says. The other alternative would to treat the boy as the father says, and then be ready for any legal action that the mother may bring forward. Most importantly, it is worth remembering that we cannot assume that failure to treat the boy on time may lead to health complication, given that she was already having violent vomiting and convulsions before being brought to the hospital. Therefore, there is a likelihood that his condition may become severe with time, and he might even lose his life in search of the best decision for him. If he dies in the hands of the physician, he will be the one to blame, not only to the father who requested his son to be treated, but also to the mother forgetting that she ordered the doctor not to treat him. Besides, the other physicians will also blame the doctor for not saving a life, and the will have already violated the Hippocratic Oath of not saving a life when he can (Miles, 2005).
On the same note, considering that the mother does not want the boy to be treated has another meaning besides her Christian beliefs. It has been noted that she is not the biological mother of the boy, and most probably, she may not have a good will for the boy. Whether he suffers or dies, she cannot feel the pain of a parent because she did not give birth to him in the first place. Therefore, according to the Bounded Rationality Model, the doctor could make a decision that is satisfactory, which is to treat the boy, given that further consultation from both parents about the treatment could pose severe health related problem. The doctor would solve the dilemma to treat the boy based on the following facts;
His profession is to save lives with the best of his abilities
The mother may not wish well for the child given that she is not the biological mother
The biological father has already approved the treatment of his son
Waiting for the father to come may take too long since he is in another stats, and the boy might be suffering within that time
He cannot watch to see the boy in pain and he can relieve him of the pain, just because the religion of the mother, who is not the biological mother does not allow that; that would be inhuman
Dialog
Doctor: Thank you very much for taking this time to discuss the wellbeing of your son. For how long has been having violent breathing?
Mother: Well, for some time now but it has not been violent as you have explained.
Doctor: Your son is a strong boy. I was in a dilemma of what to do considering that both of you different opinions about his treatment. However, as a doctor, I am trained to save lives and my conscious could not let me see the boy writhing in hospital bed. I had to make a decision that will be god for all of us.
Father: Thank you doctor. I really appreciate your kind heart and humanity towards our son. So, what decision did you make concerning the boy?
Doctor: Thank you for believing in me. The life of the boy was at risk and I had to consider both of your opinions given that you are his parents. However, I was in a better position to understand what the boy was suffering from, because I diagnosed him with meningitis. I had to treat him as fast as I could to preserve his condition and prevent such conditions in future because failure to use the treatment I used would lead to even more complicated health issues with your son. I hope you will understand my decision.
Parents: Okay doctor. We respect your decision as it was for the good of our son. Thank you very much.
References
Augier, M. (2000). Models of Herbert A. Simon. Perspectives on Science,8(4), 407-443.
Corley, M. C., Minick, P., Elswick, R. K., & Jacobs, M. (2005). Nurse moral distress and ethical work environment. Nursing Ethics, 12(4), 381-390.
Miles, S. H. (2005). The Hippocratic oath and the ethics of medicine. Oxford University Press.
