Pediatric Nursing RUA: Ethical Dilemma Assignment Guidelines

Answer

1. Ethical Principles and ANA Code of Ethics Provisions

Speaker Notes

• There are various ethical nursing principles which apply to the current ethical case of whether children should be able to donate their organs to a sibling.
• One of those is the principle of beneficence which is a duty not to harm the donor or recipient in organ allocation (Sarnaik, 2015).
• In determining on whether children should donate, it is vital to consider the ratio of the potential benefits which will arise compared to the risks and costs involved.
• The other ethical principle is that of the respect for persons including the respect for personal autonomy, dignity, privacy, and confidentiality (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2017).
• In the donation, it is vital to respect the personal privacy, confidentiality and the inherent dignity and worth of both the donor (child) and the recipient (sibling).
• The principle of fairness which includes justice, impartiality, and equity in organ transplant should be used to determine the criteria for organ allocation in case of various interests.
• On the ethical principle of scientific validity, the decision on whether the organ transplant by children should be allowed should be pegged on extensive research.
• Trustworthiness is another value which should be considered in deciding on whether children should be allowed to participate in organ transplant (Caplan & Purves, 2017).
• It should be determined that if the donation of a child’s organ that it will be used for the purpose it was intended.
• Provision 1 of the ANA Code of Ethics requires nurses to practice with respect and compassion for the inherent dignity and worth of every person.
• The nurses have the responsibility of protecting the dignity of the children and ensure the comfort of children if they were to participate in the donation.
• Provision 1.3 of the Code states that nurses should use measures to relieve pain in dying patients.
• It is vital to ensure that the child organ donation is used to relive pain and other symptoms to their dying siblings.
• Provision 1.4 also revolves around autonomy/self-determination of patients (Fowler, 2008)
• Because children cannot make informed decisions due to their age, appropriate mechanisms should be used to ensure that the consent is obtained, e.g. through their parents.

Reflection of Own Values and Morals

The ethical issue of child organ donation, especially on whether children can donate their organs to their siblings presents two opposing positions. One of those is that of autonomy and consent as children are minors and thus unable to make such decisions. However, the other one is based on the principles of beneficence, which requires that nurses should do no harm. Reflecting on this ethical issue, my values of caring enables me to allow children to donate their organs to their siblings as long as the benefits of taking such a decision outweighs the costs involved. Additionally, the value of helping one another makes it moral for children to donate their organs especially to their family members if it will help them. My morals are based on the utilitarian principle which focused on the greatest happiness for the greatest majority. As such, if the donation by a child would help, it is important to disregard the inability of the children to make informed consent and focus on the larger goal of helping their siblings who need the organ.