Patient Ethicality: A Case Study

According to McCormick (2013), the patient has the right of autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. Patient autonomy allows the patient to “act intentionally, with understanding, and without controlling influences that would mitigate against a free and voluntary act” (McCormick, 2013). The patient was given autonomy through discussion with the midwife, neonatologist, and perinatologist assigned to her care and the patient was then allowed to decide the course of action to be taken. Nonmaleficence gives the patient the right to avoid intentional harm or injury. Prolonging induction of labor until the patient exhibits clinical signs of infection for insurance reimbursement denies the patient the right to nonmaleficence. McCormick