CASE SCENARIO OF ETHICAL ISSUES IN A HEALTHCARE INSTITUTION

A hospital has received a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines and must decide how to allocate
them among their staff members. The hospital employs a diverse range of healthcare workers,
including doctors, nurses, administrative staff, and cleaning personnel. Some employees work
directly with COVID-19 patients, while others do not.

The hospital administration is faced with the following ethical questions:

1. Who should be prioritized for vaccination?

2. Should vaccination be mandatory for all employees?

3. What should be done if some employees refuse to be vaccinated?

4. How should the hospital address concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy among
employees?

ETHICAL ISSUES IN QUESTION AS REGARDS THE SCENARIO

 Non-maleficence: This principle holds that healthcare professionals have a duty to prevent
harm to patients. Mandating COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers can help reduce
the risk of transmission of COVID-19 within the hospital and protect patients from harm.

 Beneficence: This principle holds that healthcare professionals have a duty to promote the
well-being of their patients. Mandating COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers can
promote the well-being of patients by reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 within
the hospital.

 Autonomy: This principle holds that individuals have the right to make their own decisions
about their healthcare. Mandating COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers can raise
concerns about autonomy, as employees may feel that their personal autonomy is being
violated by the requirement to be vaccinated.

 Justice: This principle holds that healthcare resources should be allocated in a fair and
equitable manner. Mandating COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers can be seen as a
just decision, as it can help ensure that all patients receive the same level of protection from
COVID-19.
  Fidelity: This principle holds that healthcare professionals have a duty to keep their promise,
maintain their integrity and trustworthiness. Mandating COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare
workers can raise concerns about patient trust, as patients may question the trustworthiness of
healthcare professionals who are required to be vaccinated.

RESOLVING THE DILEMMA IN THIS SCENARIO

According to the ethical principles, resolving the situation of COVID-19 vaccine allocation among
hospital staff should involve the following considerations:

1. Beneficence: The healthcare institution has a legal and ethical obligation to ensure a safe
environment for patients, healthcare workers, and visitors. Vaccination would reduce viral
transmission and thereby promote health, enhance patient safety, provide a sense of security,
also, promote their well-being and prevent them getting infected.

2. Non-maleficence: Ensuring the safety and efficacy of the vaccine before administering it to
staff members can avoid causing potential harm to them. Healthcare workers have an
ethical/moral obligation to provide care for patients and to do no harm; vaccination would
limit the spread of COVID-19 infection.

3. Justice: Distributing the vaccine in a way that is fair and equitable, based on factors such as
level of exposure and risk of severe illness, can ensure that healthcare resources are
distributed justly, prioritizing healthcare workers who are at highest risk of exposure to
COVID-19, such as those who work directly with COVID-19 patients. The hospital can
establish a committee composed of healthcare providers, public health experts, and ethicists
to determine vaccine allocation criteria and make allocation decisions.

4. Autonomy: Respecting the autonomy of staff members to make informed decisions about
their health and well-being can help build trust and promote a collaborative approach. The
hospital should provide education and information about the safety and efficacy of the
 COVID-19 vaccine to staff and patients. They can also address concerns and provide
reassurance about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

5. Fidelity: Prioritizing the interests of the patients and community the hospital serves can help
build trust and promote a faithful approach. The hospital can communicate vaccine allocation
decisions and criteria clearly and transparently to staff and patients. This can help build trust
in the allocation process and ensure that the process is perceived as fair and equitable.

By taking these ethical principles into consideration, the hospital administration can develop a
vaccine allocation plan that is fair, equitable, and effective, and address any concerns or objections
raised by staff members in a way that respects their autonomy and promotes the well-being of all
stakeholders involved.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, understanding institutional and Societal Ethical Dilemma Issues is important to reduce
risks that arise from unethical practice. With this knowledge, community health nurses to be able to
recognize healthcare dilemma in and out of the institution, make good judgements and decisions
based on ethical principles and laws.
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