Ethical debate abounds in the literature relative to treatment decisions for the high risk neonate in the intensive care nursery. A systematic examination of the parents' perspective is missing. To fill this existing gap, the ethical dimension of care was explored with 32 families of high risk newborns from a Level III nursery, using a moral conflict interview guide in order to describe their perspective. A concept of the medicalization of parenting appears to best reflect the parents' view of ethical decision-making responsibility. This concept evolved through the parents' reflection on conflict naming, content of decision-making, context of decision-making, information sharing and perception of infant status. These concerns differ profoundly from those of health professionals, philosophers, theologians and others active in this debate who cite lower limits of viability, iatrogenic effects of treatment, use of multiple invasive procedures, and the role of paternalism as ethical issues.
HIV infection and AIDS create a unique dilemma for women in their potential for vertical transmission of these conditions. Selected feminist perspectives in ontology, epistemology, and axiology are reviewed to illuminate possible social, cultural, and political circumstances of these women. Drawing both on these perspectives and various sources of data about women with HIV/AIDS, some implications for nursing complete this discussion.
This study investigated decision making in ethical dilemmas and attitudes toward professional autonomy. It was based on Murphy's identification of three nurse-patient relationship models. The model identification was the result of Murphy's investigation of the levels of moral reasoning of nurse practitioners, from Kohlbergs theory of moral development. Autonomy is necessary for patient advocacyin Murphy's highest order model of nurse-patient relationship. 109 freshmen, 103 seniors, and 82 graduates (baccalaureate nursing) were examined for model selection, risk-taking, restrictions, and anxiety in the decisionmaking process in specific situations. Autonomy was measured independently. The most significant results indicated that freshmen were less likely to select the autonomous model of relationship, had lower attitudes toward professional nursing autonomy, and were less willing to take risks. Graduates were lower than either student group in their perceptions of restrictions and anxiety. The responses to each dilemma itself varied by situation in relation to the model preferred.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.