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Related Concept Videos

Ethical Dilemmas II01:30

Ethical Dilemmas II

Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
Ethical Issues01:27

Ethical Issues

Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Obedience01:08

Obedience

According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation, obedience...
Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
Nursing Ethical Principles II01:27

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
12:22

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement

Published on: July 1, 2015

Navigating between Action and Inaction: Moral Distress in Mental Health Professionals.

Chandrasen Yadav1, Yukta Mehdiratta2

  • 1Department of Clinical Psychology, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, India.

Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry
|June 16, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Mental health professionals (MHPs) in India experience cumulative moral distress due to conflicts between holistic care and role-bound interventions. This pervasive unease arises even when acting ethically, highlighting the need for institutional support.

Keywords:
Lived ExperiencesMental Health PracticeMental Health ProfessionalsMoral AmbiguityMoral Distress

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
12:22

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement

Published on: July 1, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Medical Ethics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Moral distress commonly stems from inability to act on moral knowledge, often due to institutional constraints.
  • In mental health care, this distress can be a cumulative, quieter phenomenon, not just isolated dilemmas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore moral distress in Indian mental health professionals (MHPs) within a multidisciplinary public institution.
  • To examine how role-bound interventions conflict with holistic understanding, causing pervasive unease.

Main Methods:

  • Drawing from clinical experience in a public mental health institution in India.
  • Engaging with philosophy of ethics, morality, and psychological anthropology.
  • Illustrating manifestations of moral distress with two anecdotal vignettes.

Main Results:

  • MHPs experience moral distress as a cumulative unease from the conflict between holistic understanding and role-bound interventions.
  • This distress occurs even when professionals act competently and ethically within their roles.
  • Vignettes show distress arising from boundary adherence and hesitation to question authority in hierarchical settings.

Conclusions:

  • Moral distress in MHPs is a pervasive issue shaped by institutional hierarchies and professional role limitations.
  • There is a need for collective and institutional support systems to address this form of moral distress.
  • Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for improving professional well-being and clinical interactions.