Ethics in long-term care. Are the principles different?
It has become common in medical ethics to discuss difficult cases in terms of the principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. These moral concepts or principles serve as maxims that are suggestive of appropriate clinical behavior. Because this language evolved primarily in the acute care setting, I consider whether it is in need of supplementation in order to be useful in the long-term care setting. Through analysis of two typical cases involving residents of long-term care facilities, I argue for the additional principles of candor and responsibility for narrative integrity.
Kuczewski
M G
MG
Center for the Study of Bioethics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226-0509, USA.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D026686:Beneficence; D032764:Casuistry; D003657:Decision Making; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D028663:Ethical Theory; D004989:Ethics; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D028681:Moral Obligations; D033262:Narration; D009735:Nursing Homes; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D028662:Principle-Based Ethics; D024382:Professional Role; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values; D014342:Truth Disclosure