Ethical Dilemma a Common Dilemma

Ethical Dilemma A common dilemma that all psychiatric screeners will have is a host ethical situations. This is because the position involves working with other mental health professionals and patients. The problems arise when there is a conflict between guidelines for the industry and what is morally correct. At the heart of these issues, are three different ethical dilemmas that will be encountered to include: the use of medication, what issues should be discussed with colleagues and becoming too close with clients.

Medication The use of medication is a major ethical situation because no single drug will address all of the symptoms impacting the patient. As a psychiatric screener, this can create conflicts when you realize that the medication is not working. This is challenging because, there is a duty as mental health professionals to look out for the best interests of the patient. Yet, you could also be undermining the authority of colleagues and supervisors. The way this is unethical is all psychiatrists must take the patient's interests into account.

The fact that they are not becoming better is a sign that something needs to be changed with the therapy. The problem is that some doctors will want to wait and see vs. dealing with the situation (which can increase suffering). This causes the patient to feel worse and it wastes their money on treatment options that are ineffective. To address this ethical dilemma, you should document why this patient needs to have a change in their medication. Then, present your ideas to other colleagues and supervisors.

This will provide a way for: objectively seeing what issues are impacting the patient and which steps must be taken to deal with these challenges. (Paul, 2011) What Issues should be discussed with Colleagues? Discussing patient conversations with colleagues is considered to be against the basic guidelines for mental health professionals. However, there are situations where psychiatric screeners will be a part of a mental health team.

For example, during one interview the patient discloses some personal facts about their marriage that helps to provide a better understanding of their condition (depression). The conflict arises with the sharing of the information that could be disclosed to other colleagues. In one aspect there is a duty to confidentiality. While at the same time, providing the details of the conversation will help to improve treatment options. The challenge is determining if this information should be disclosed.

This situation is unethical by violating the confidentiality of the patient through discussing the conversation. It is also illegal and unethical by not disclosing these facts to provide the best treatment options. The way that this will impact the patient, is it could cause them to become more withdrawn by having everyone know about certain facts they consider to be embarrassing. To address this dilemma requires talking to the patient about how this must be disclosed for improving treatment options.

Once they agree to this, is when you can let others know by directly dealing with the ethical and legal issues. Becoming too close with Clients A common challenge that all psychiatric screeners will face is becoming too close to clients. This is because during the.