Hufsted Ethical Decision Making as Applied to an Issue Raised by Five Days at Memorial

MPA/MBA 682 final paper assignment sheet

Hufsted Ethical Decision Making as Applied to an Issue Raised by Five Days at Memorial

Choose one issue related to healthcare raised by the book Five Days at Memorial—anything from care provision inequities to administrative decisions about resource allocation.Then, follow the Hufsted Guide for Ethical Decision Making, as outlined below, to discuss a decision about that issue as you bring both legal and ethical considerations into the decision making process. I strongly recommend you run your paper topic past me so I can help you refine it before you invest a great deal of time in the research.

This is an academic paper, not a journal or diary entry. It should be analytical rather than descriptive or anecdotal. A complete analysis will require 10-12 pages, not counting the title page and reference page. Follow APA format for all parts of the manuscript. Review the plagiarism policy to avoid getting a zero on this major project.

An Ethical Decision-Making Model (Source: Josephson Institute of Ethics. "Five Steps of Principled Reasoning." 1999.)

Start by describing the ethical and legal dilemma in 2-3 paragraphs, then follow the steps below.

• Clarify.

a. Determine precisely what must be decided.

b. Formulate and devise the full range of alternatives.

c. Eliminate patently impractical, illegal and improper alternatives.

d. Force yourself to develop at least three ethically justifiable options.

e. Examine each option to determine which ethical principles and values are involved.

• Evaluate.

a. If any of the options requires the sacrifice of any ethical principle, evaluate the facts and assumptions carefully.

b. Distinguish solid facts from beliefs, desires, theories, suppositions, unsupported conclusions, opinions, and rationalizations.

c. Consider the credibility of sources, especially when they are self-interested, ideological or biased.

d. With regard to each alternative, carefully consider the benefits, burdens and risks to each stakeholder.

• Decide.

a. Make a judgment about what is not true and what consequences are most likely to occur.

b. Evaluate the viable alternatives according to personal conscience.

c. Prioritize the values so that you can choose which values to advance and which to subordinate.

d. Determine who will be helped the most and harmed the least.

e. Consider the worst-case scenario.

f. Consider whether ethically questionable conduct can be avoided by changing goals or methods, or by getting consent.

g. Apply three "ethics guides." Are you treating others as you would want to be treated? Would you be comfortable if your reasoning and decision were to be publicized? Would you be comfortable if your children were observing you?

• Implement.

a. Develop a plan to implement the decision.

b. Maximize the benefits and minimize the costs and risks.

• Monitor and modify.

a. Develop a plan to monitor the effects of decisions.

b. Be prepared and willing to revise a plan, or take a different course of action.

c. Be prepared to adjust to new information.

Your entire manuscript, from title page through the reference page, must be in APA format. Consult the APA Manual for guidance. If you are unclear or unsure about the paper requirements or expectations in any way, make an appointment to discuss the project with me.

Your paper will be graded with the final paper grading rubric. Be sure to read the rubric before beginning the paper, and at least once more before handing the paper in, to make sure you have covered all of the bases.