GERO 365 Prescott College Ethical Principles Case Study

GERO 365Ethical Case Studies
Select one case study, and provide your response via the assignment link
Ethical Case Study 1
In many nursing homes and assisted living communities, there is a well known and accepted
practice to wake up patients/residents early in the morning, sometimes as early as 5am, so that
the staff has enough time to complete tasks for all of the residents such as getting them
dressed, administering medications, doing treatments, giving showers, etc. This practice stems
from the need for fairness among staffing assignments, in other words, to avoid all the work
needing to be completed on the day and afternoon shift, it is necessary that some residents
have to get up before they are ready.
Discuss what you think the issues are with this type of practice? Discuss the possible ethical
principles at play and your recommendation to resolve this dilemma.
Hint: Self-determination, Nonmaleficence, Beneficence, Universalizability,
Ethical Case Study 2
Gloria is a housekeeper in an independent living community. While walking through a hallway,
she noticed the door of a resident’s apartment was left open, which was unusual. She stepped
in to check on Louis, and quickly realized that he was on the phone in his living room. As she
turned to leave, she over heard him saying that he had stopped taking all of his medications
because he was ready to die. She could tell that the person that he was speaking with was
trying to reason with him. Gloria knows that Louis has a very loving and involved daughter that
visits him every Saturday. She left the room determined that she would tell his daughter what
she heard when she saw her on Saturday.
What issues are facing Gloria? Discuss the possible ethical principles at play and your
recommendation to Gloria.
Hint: Confidentiality, Beneficence, Self-determination