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Ethics in long-term care. Are the principles different?
1Center for the Study of Bioethics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226-0509, USA.
Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics
|August 12, 1999
Summary
Medical ethics principles like autonomy and justice may need updating for long-term care. This study suggests adding candor and narrative integrity to better guide clinical practice in these settings.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Geriatric Care
Background:
- Established medical ethics principles (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice) are widely used.
- These principles originated primarily in acute care settings.
- Long-term care presents unique ethical challenges not fully addressed by existing frameworks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the adequacy of current medical ethics principles for long-term care.
- To propose necessary additions to the ethical framework for long-term care settings.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two case studies involving residents in long-term care facilities.
- Ethical analysis of clinical decision-making in these cases.
Main Results:
- Existing principles may be insufficient for complex long-term care situations.
- Two additional principles, candor and responsibility for narrative integrity, are proposed.
Conclusions:
- The ethical discourse in long-term care requires expansion beyond traditional principles.
- Incorporating candor and narrative integrity can enhance ethical practice and resident well-being in long-term care.
Keywords:
Professional Patient Relationship