Why Study Ethics? Essay

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Abstract
Ethics provides a framework to address situations that arise in the medical field. Often, practitioners are faced with the dilemma in their duties. Such conflicts may arise between the values of the patients and the medical staff or among the staffs. Four major ethical principles have been identified as a guide in the medical field. There are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice.
Autonomy
Autonomy identifies the patient’s right to choose or accept a treatment. Often a medical practitioner will encounter a situation of opposing interests. For example, in the situation of a fatally ill patient, the family may prefer euthanasia but the patient is not against it. The medical attendant will be confused between terminating the life as per the family or honor the patient’s decision. The patient’s decision is supreme in this case, (Gillon 2015).
Beneficence
The principle of beneficence, considered as the fundamental principle, states that a patients’ best interest should always prevail. The primary importance of any medication is healing the patient, and should not be issued on any other basis apart from this. A medical staff should consider what is the best option for the patient taking into consideration their condition and belief.
Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence principle states that one should not harm at first. It places medical practitioner in a dilemma when offering treatment. Medication may have harmful effects on a patient though it is the only remedy available. A treatment should not harm the patient to a point of losing life
Justice
This principle guides in...