Discussion: Ethical Dimensions of Research Studies

In the best-selling book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Skloot, 2010), the author highlights the true story of an African-American woman who died in 1951 from cervical cancer. What makes her story unique is that prior to her death, cells from her tumor were removed and successfully grown in a petri dish. This was the first time scientists were able to successfully replicate cells outside the body, and it is estimated that billions of Lacks’ cells have been used in medical research. However, Henrietta Lacks was never asked for permission to take a sample and her family was never made aware of the widespread use of her cells. Although the culturing of her cells has been pivotal for advancing research, strong ethical concerns later arose about using these cells without patient or family approval. 

This week’s readings describe historical examples of unethical research, such as a study of syphilis among African-American men in which treatment was withheld and a study in which live cancer cells were injected into elderly patients. Today, stricter controls that seek to protect study participants are placed on researchers, but breaches still occur. Careful attention must be given toward preventing unethical behavior. In this Discussion, you explore ethical considerations and issues in research.

To prepare:

• Select a current health-related case involving research ethics. (If none come to mind, browse the Internet to familiarize yourself with recent cases.)

• As you review the case that you have selected, reflect on the ethical principles discussed in “What Are the Major Ethical Issues in Conducting Research?” article found in this week’s Learning Resources. Which principles were breached in the case you have identified?

Post a description of the case that you selected and the ethical issues involved. Analyze the ethical principles that were breached by the researchers or organizations in your selected case as well as the possible cause of the breach(es). Suggest how the research might have been conducted differently to avoid or minimize the ethical problems. Discuss how research can be done on sensitive issues while still protecting the rights of the research subjects.

Discuss why EBP is an essential component of the practice of a BSN-prepared RN. Identify two ways in which you will continue to integrate evidence into your practice and encourage it within your work environment. What obstacles could challenge this plan, and what steps will you take to minimize their impact? one page 

design a 1-2 page health newsletter that would be appropriate for their workplace. Newsletters should contain content appropriate for health promotion concerning the workplace that they have chosen for their project. Also, links for additional facts and information and graphics should be included.

Please click the Newsletter Guideline and Rubric

 to learn more about the assignment and to access the grading rubric. 

APA format 2 pages 3references 1 from Walden University Library

Due 3/15/19 at 6pm EST

escription of setting

            Our midwest group has chosen Suncrest Hospice and Home care located in Ames and Des Moines, Iowa. It is a a home based agency which provides care for patients who are terminally ill.  The employees consist of nurses, home health aides, social workers, counselors and others.  In addition to medical needs, the team focuses on the emotional, physical, social and spiritual needs of the patients, as well as supporting family members (Hospice.io, n.d.).

Accreditation

            There are three agencies that provide accreditation for home care and hospice; The Joint Commission (TJC), Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), and Accreditation Commission for Healthcare (ACHC) (Devoti, 2018).  Suncrest Hospice and Home Care received accrediation approval from Community Health Accredition Partner (CHAP), which is valid through August 26th, 2021 (CHAP, 2018).  CHAP was “created in 1965, and …was the first accrediting body for home and community-based healthcare organizations in the United States” (CHAP, 2018).  By being CHAP accredited, Suncrest meets the regulatory requirment to be Medicare certified, which means that hospice services are covered by Medicare/Medicaid (Office of the Federal Register, 2018).

Three CHAP standards selected for review

            After review of the CHAP hospice standards (2018), I selected the following three to review:

1. Written mission statement affirms the concept of hospice and palliative care addressing the physical, social, psychological and spiritual dimensions of care as an integrated whole.
2. An interdisciplinary care team/group (IDT/IDG) collaborates with patient’s attending physician, patient/representative and primary caregiver to develop a patient directed individualized plan of care.
3. The hospice program has adequate and appropriate staff and services.

            According to Suncrests´ Mission, they are committed to “…provide the highest quality of care and customer service to (their) patients, their families and (their) referring sources” (2018).  The mission statement does not clearly detail the goal of hospice and palliative care in addressing the multiple aspects of care of a terminally ill patient, therefore not clearly meeting the first standard selected.

            On the Suncrest website, hospice is described as treatment provided by “…qualified and compassionate physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, and spiritual advisors” (Suncrest, 2018).  This statement does comply with the second standard selected, in that a team is providing and implementing a plan of care for each patient.

            Looking at the career webpage of Suncrest Hospice, there are two opening for employment at the Des Moines location.  This meets the third standard selected of adequate staff. 

References

Community Health Accreditation Partner [CHAP]. (2018). CHAP accredited organization locator. Retrieved from

            https://locator.chaplinq.org/

Community Health Accreditation Partner [CHAP]. (2018).  About our history.  Retrieved from      https://chapinc.org/contact-about-us/

Devoti, A.L., (2018)  Accreditation services for home care and hospice.  Retrived from

            https://www.homecaremag.com/may-2018/accreditation-home-health-hospice

Hospice.io, (n.d.)  Suncrest Hospice, Llc west des moines.  Retrieved March 12th, 2019 from

            https://hospice.io/care/suncrest-hospice-llc-west-des-moines-ia/

Office of the Federal Register.  (2018).  Continued approval of the community health accreditation partner’s hospice accreditation program.  Retrieved from           https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/16/2018-25066/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-continued-approval-of-the-community-health-accreditation-partners

Suncrest.  (2018).  Our mission.  Retrieved from

            https://suncrestcare.com/our_mission/

Suncrest. (2018).  What is hospice?  Retrieved from

            https://suncrestcare.com/hospice/