[Ethical decision models in nursing and medicine]

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Nursing Ethics
• Bioethics

Background:

• Numerous monodisciplinary ethical decision-making models exist in medicine and nursing.
• New ethical models are continuously developed, raising questions about their practical application and consequences.

Observation:

• This article examines two distinct ethical decision-making models: Illhardt's (physician-centered) and Tschudin's (nursing-centered).
• A case study applies both models to analyze their commonalities, differences, and impact on the decision-making process.

Findings:

• The practical application revealed both shared elements and divergences between the physician- and nursing-specific models.
• Interdisciplinary implementation highlighted the interrelated effects of using different ethical frameworks.

Implications:

• The development of nursing-specific ethical decision-making models may be questionable, particularly when interdisciplinary collaboration is the goal.
• Comparing and contrasting different ethical models is crucial for understanding their practical utility and potential impact in healthcare settings.