Medical Ethics: Ethical Issues and Family Practice - Essay Example

Ethical Issues and Family Practice

  Ethical dilemmas in family practice have increased in frequency and complexity in relation to potential advantages and damages, and medical treatments have increased. These ethical issues dictate that physicians should keep the patient's information confidential at all costs (Barnette, 1982).

In the case mentioned, it is apparent that the 14 years old woman has already engaged herself in sexual activities without paying attention to many risks that are associated with these activities such as unwanted pregnancies and the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and more so HIV/AIDS. On the other hand, the parents to this young woman still perceive her as a child particularly now that they have accompanied her to see the physician, where she demands to know what is wrong with the daughter from the physician, a situation that brings up a dilemma (Husted & Husted 2008).

             The fact that the young woman has decided to disclose to the physician about her sexual activities and then seeking to have a birth control prescription is another ethical dilemma. It is clear that this woman is aware of what is happening to her health life but do not want the physician to reveal the details to her parents because she knows what she has involved herself in is morally wrong. If anything, she is candid about her issues because she believes the physician will give her confidentiality (Morrison 2011). According to medical ethics on confidentially, the physicians are not allowed to disclose medical details of the young woman to anybody. However, the presence of the parents suggests that she is still a responsibility of the parents and as such must be accompanied by either or both of them. Moreover, they have every right to know the medical disorders of their child because she is still under their supervision.

            Never the less, the physician must be in a position to solve this dilemma at all costs. First, the physician should adhere to the medical principles that mandate them to treat and offer assistance to the patient to the best of their knowledge. He should give the young woman advice on the birth control prescription since she has already engaged herself in sexual activities. Denying her this assistance only gives her the chance to continue leading a carefree sexual life (Husted & Husted 2008).  Failure to do this, the physician will be said to have breached the code of conduct that ought to guide him. In essence, advising her against the use of prescription at this age is crucial as it would lead to the destruction of her fertility life.

            Additionally, he should fulfill the mandate of explaining to the parents what they need to know. This would be done best through the female parent where the physician discloses to her the importance of understanding that the daughter has involved herself in the sexual activities at this tender age. The physician should make the parent understand that the present situation cannot be reversed but they should instead focus on paying more attention to the daughter in terms of moral responsibility. If possible, the physician should try and bring the two parties together after the separate disclosure so as to help them handle the situation in the best way possible (Barnette, 1982).