6/18/2019 1/6 Week 1 Ethical Theories, Dilemmas, and Decision-Making The healthcare executive needs to understand and be fully prepared to properly and effectively apply, ethical theories when confronted with ethical dilemmas. “Executives must accept their leadership responsibilities to define ethical behavior clearly into a firm's value system and to pursue it relentlessly as a top-priority goal” (Thomas, Schermerhorn, & Dienhart, 2004, p. 56). Being grounded in ethics provides the administrator with the tools for analyzing ethics-related issues that they will encounter. Four ethical principles that have remained germane to the healthcare setting are beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice (Beauchamp & Childess, 2001). Having a foundation in theory, principles, and decision-making will enhance your ability to reason and improve your role as a professional in healthcare, as well as ensure the sustainability of the organization you lead. According to Anath (2017), there are three major methodologies of ethical decision- making in clinical settings: 1. Theory School. Proponents of the theory school apply ethical theories such as deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics. 2. Principal School. Those who follow this methodology apply ethical principles such as justice, beneficence, and autonomy to healthcare issues. 3. Case-Based or Casuistic School. Proponents of this school eschew the first two, believing that resolving the “complex issues in medical settings [requires focusing] on the actual details of specific cases” (Anath, 2017, p 145). https://ncuone.ncu.edu/d2l/home/143543 6/18/2019 2/6 " Launch in a separate window Ethical principles are derived from ethical theories and “provide a generalized framework within which particular ethical dilemmas can be analyzed” (Pozgar, 2016). Often times the difficult decisions that are made in healthcare involve having to choose between conflicting ethical principles. The ethical principles of healthcare are autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. Be sure to review this week's resources carefully. You are expected to apply the information from these resources when you prepare your assignments. Heads-Up to the Signature Assignment Your culminating Signature Assignment (due in Week 8) will be a reflection of all that you have learned within the course, and it may require that you complete some work ahead of time. Your role as a healthcare administrator is to understand and make the business case for operating an organization that is compliant with laws and regulations, and one that ensures access to high-quality health services by making ethical and transparent decisions. For your Signature Assignment, you will have the option of selecting one of three cases that have ethical and legal implications for patient outcomes and will present a solution for your chosen case to the board of your organization. To ensure you are p.