When healthcare leaders fail to preserve the principles of medical ethics, the leaders are vulnerable to administering morally inappropriate patient care; consequently, the effects of such actions lead to undesirable patient outcomes. A physician in a case study involving a depressed elderly gentleman did not execute the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. The physician violated these ethical principles and as a result, he did not respect the right of the patient to refuse treatment, his actions did not benefit the patient and his health or well-being, and the physician prolonged his suffering. The following paragraphs will review the history of the case study and give examples of how the physician breached these ethical principles. Finally, as it pertains to the case study, a paragraph discussion focuses on …show more content…
The principles of medical ethics are as follows: autonomy, beneficence, confidentiality, non-maleficence, equality, and fairness (Missinglink, n.d.). Autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence are the focus of this case study investigation. Autonomy is the right of competent adults to make informed decisions about their medical treatments. Patients have the right to choose or refuse medical treatments and must provide consent for the treatments performed. Physicians are to respect the patient’s desires and respect their decisions (MissingLink, n.d.). Beneficence is action to benefit others. Meaning, physicians must act in the best interest of their patients and put the patient’s needs above their own. If patients lack the ability to make informed decisions, the physician must act to keep patients from making decisions that are not in their best interests (MissingLink,