3 Chapter 3 Health Care Ethical Considerations
Shawn Cradit
Familiarity with Athletic Training and previously working as a Physician Extender in a Sports Medicine Physcian Practice allows the following ethical considerations to be evaluated.
Here’s a more detailed look at some key ethical issues in athletic training:
4. Return-to-Play Decisions: Making decisions about when an injured athlete can return to play is a complex ethical dilemma, requiring athletic trainers to balance the athlete’s health and the pressures of competition. Usually the un written rule is if an athlete can perform at 85% and there will be no further irreparable harm, an athlete could return to play under close observation of the athletic trainer. An example would be and athlete who has dislocated a finger, and the athletic trainer has protected the injury to prevent irreparable harm (splint/buddytape, etc.), the athlete could return to competition under close observation of the athletic trainer. The coach would be notified that if signs or symptoms become present, the athlete will be removed to protect the athlete.
7. Legal Considerations: Athletic trainers must be aware of the legal responsibilities and liabilities associated with their practice, including the potential for negligence, benficence, duty to act, non-maleficence,
- Negligence:
Negligence is a failure to act with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances, resulting in harm.
Key Elements encompacing negligence especially in healthcare or law:
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Duty: The person had a responsibility to act (e.g., a nurse caring for a patient).
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Breach of Duty: They failed to act appropriately or carefully.
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Causation: That failure directly caused harm.
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Damages: Actual harm or injury occurred.
Example:
An EMT leaves a patient unattended during transport, and the patient falls and is injured. If a reasonable EMT would have stayed, that’s negligence. -
- Beneficence:
Beneficence means taking positive steps to help others, promote their well-being, and prevent or remove harm. The duty to act in a way that benefits others.
In Practice:
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Doing more than just avoiding harm (nonmaleficence).
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Providing effective treatments.
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Comforting a patient in distress.
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Taking extra steps to ensure someone is safe.
Example:
A nurse noticing a patient is anxious and spending time explaining procedures to reduce their stress. -
- Duty to act:
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The legal or professional obligation to provide care or help when someone is in danger or in need of assistance.
When it Applies:
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To healthcare professionals while on duty.
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In some states or jurisdictions, Good Samaritan laws may protect or require bystanders to act.
Example:
A paramedic on shift must respond to a car crash scene. If they ignore it, they’re violating their duty. -
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- Non-maleficence:
- The duty to avoid causing harm to others. Nonmaleficence means “do no harm.” It’s about avoiding causing harm — even unintentionally — and minimizing risk.
In Practice:
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Avoiding unnecessary procedures.
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Ensuring medications are properly dosed.
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Weighing risks vs. benefits before treatment.
Example:
A doctor decides not to perform a risky surgery on a frail elderly patient because the potential harm outweighs the benefit. -
- The duty to avoid causing harm to others. Nonmaleficence means “do no harm.” It’s about avoiding causing harm — even unintentionally — and minimizing risk.
- Respect for autonomy:
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This principle means recognizing and honoring a person’s right to make their own decisions about their body, health, and life.
Key Points:
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Informed consent is essential.
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Patients have the right to accept or refuse treatment, even if it may result in harm or death.
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Healthcare professionals must provide all necessary information clearly and without coercion.
Example:
A cancer patient refuses chemotherapy after understanding all the risks and benefits. The healthcare team respects that choice, even if they personally disagree. -
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- Harm
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Harm refers to anything that negatively affects a person’s well-being, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, or even spiritually.
In ethical decision-making, the idea is:
“Will this action cause harm?”
“Can this harm be avoided or minimized?”-
Physical Harm
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Injury, illness, pain, or death.
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Example: Giving the wrong medication or performing surgery without sterilization.
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Psychological or Emotional Harm
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Causing fear, stress, trauma, or emotional distress.
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Example: Speaking harshly to a patient or ignoring a mental health crisis.
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Social Harm
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Damaging someone’s reputation, privacy, relationships, or status.
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Example: Revealing confidential patient info without consent.
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Moral or Spiritual Harm
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Forcing someone to act against their deeply held beliefs or values.
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Example: Pressuring someone into a procedure they morally oppose.
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Knowledge Check Questions Chapter 3
Create a hypothetical scenario that includes an example of five key ethical issues for athletic trainers.
Create a hypothetical scenario for each of the Legal Considerations listed.
