Hoarder's Ethical Dilemmas

The present can change in the blink of an eye, which is why it is important to have a plan to execute if problems were to arise in the future. For example, what if one day someone got terminally ill to the point that they could not make their own health care decisions? Who determines the right plan of choice for that individual? Advanced directives can help bring order to some of the confusion and worry that may arise from these problems. Advanced directives are written statements and legal documents designed to help an individual create and ensure future medical plans, treatments, and end-of-life care (Sabatino, 2010). Examples of advanced directives can include a power of attorney, health care surrogate, and a will (Sabatino, 2010). There

The four issues include community wellbeing, quality of care, confidentiality, and autonomy (NICE, 2014). Community wellbeing is the idea that being knowledgeable on hoarding and reducing the severity of hoarding would ultimately increase the safety of the community. That way, the community could take the necessary steps to ensure their own safety and the safety of the hoarder. However, by doing so, there could be a breach in the hoarder’s confidentiality. The argument for community wellbeing is one of a utilitarian point of view since the notion is to guarantee the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people. Quality of care is health care that is effective, safe, and people-centered to improve one’s condition (NICE, 2014). This can become an issue when the hoarder does not want to be helped. Quality of care relates to the theory of ethics of care because by providing excellent care shows that you care greatly about the individuals physical and emotional health (NICE, 2014). Confidentiality is the duty to entrust others with personal or private information and respecting their privacy (NICE, 2014). For example, if someone were to inform a public health official of the hoarder’s issues without their consent, they would be violating the hoarder’s rights. Confidentiality can be breached when there is an emergency, but there are no strict guidelines to determine what is and what isn’t an emergency (NICE, 2014). The last ethical dilemma is autonomy and capacity. Autonomy is a person’s right to make and live by their own decisions (NICE, 2014). Therefore, if a hoarder wishes to be left alone, then their autonomy must be respected. Not respecting an individual's autonomy would violate their rights and