COMPARISON OF ETHICAL REASONING BY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS OF INFANTS (HIGH-RISK NEWBORN).
Contributors: Catholic University of America.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 124
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to explore and compare the ethical reasoning processes used by health care professionals and parents of normal infants. A qualitative descriptive design was used and the theoretical framework was nonconsequential teleological moral reasoning (Grisez & Boyle, 1979). Subjects were 32 professionals--nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians, and 32 parents who had a normal newborn. They read two case studies which illustrated prototypic ethical decisions regarding care of high risk infants. The interview guide employed the categories of deliberation, choice, human goods, and principles. Transcripts from tape recordings were analyzed by content analysis. Characteristics of parents and professionals were similar in age, sex, race, religion, and education. Both groups said deliberation should focus on the surgical decision and its impact on the family. Both groups considered parents' role as decision maker and professionals' role as educator and supporter. Some suggested parents gather information prior to decision making and professionals make decisions. Both groups agreed a choice existed as whether to treat or not treat the infant, and most would treat the infant in each case. Although a few parents would not recommend surgery on the infants, professionals never advanced this option. Life, health and harmony with others were considered relevant human goods in both groups. Parents said harmony with self and harmony with God were also relevant human goods whereas professionals addressed knowledge of truth. Although both groups employed the principle of fairness, parents used the principle of keeping commitments and professionals considered the principle of not damaging any human good.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-05, Section: B, page: 1304.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, 1987.

School code: 0043.